Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 150: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will take steps towards making additional resources available to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission and his views on whether the contingent of just 30 investigators is sufficient to deal with the case load in view of the fact GSOC received 3,500 complaints since May 2007, 900 of which related to alleged criminal behaviour on the part of the Gardaí. [9000/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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At the outset I should say that we have secured almost 100 sanctioned posts for the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission. In that context, section 80(2) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 obliges the Ombudsman Commission to submit a report to me on its effectiveness and on the adequacy of the functions assigned to it within two years of its establishment. I am in receipt of an e-mail copy of that report and I understand that printed copies will be delivered to me shortly. Copies of those reports will in due course be laid before each House of the Oireachtas.

The report is being examined by my officials at present. However I am aware from ongoing contact with the Ombudsman Commission that they are of the view that certain amendments to the Act of 2005 would facilitate a better utilisation of resources. I intend to bring proposals for suitable legislative changes to Government in the near future.

Finally, I should say that I have secured authorisation for a total of 40 investigative posts for the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission and a recruitment process in relation to the outstanding vacancies for those specialised positions is currently in train.