Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 389: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress to date on the development of a Garda charter; the recommendations the Garda Inspectorate has passed to him on this issue; when he expects it to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40046/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Garda Inspectorate have been requested to provide advice on the development of a Garda Charter, specifically:

To advise on the development and implementation of the Garda Charter proposed in the Programme for Government which will set out targeted response times and levels of service which the public can expect including frequency of high visibility patrols in urban and rural communities;

To examine data currently available and to make recommendations on improving data availability on response times and the levels of service (including frequency of high visibility patrols) provided by An Garda Síochána;

To consider any similar service charters or relevant systems operating in other police services and to report on how the experience in those services can be used in developing and implementing a system in Ireland, and

To recommend on how a system can be implemented incrementally having regard to the availability of resources and the systems for the deployment of such resources.

The aim of a Garda Charter is to improve customer service and responsiveness. The Charter will set out targeted response times and levels of service the public can expect, including the frequency of high visibility patrols in urban and rural communities.

The Garda Inspectorate have advised me that they expect to complete their report early next year and I look forward to receiving their advice.