Written answers

Tuesday, 3 February 2009

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Departmental Expenditure

9:00 pm

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 261: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the additional cost to employ a garda to do work which did not require garda skills and could be done by a civilian in both 2007 and 2008; the increased cost since the 2001 benchmark was set (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3065/09]

Photo of Dermot AhernDermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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There has been a major expansion in the number of civilians in An Garda Síochána since the civilianisation study referred to by the Deputy was carried out in 2001. The study recommended that an additional 556 posts were suitable for Civilianisation and that these would be filled over a period of 21 years to allow for continuity of skills, particularly in technical areas. On 31st March, 2001 there were 959 civilians serving in the Garda Síochána. As of 31st December, 2008, this figure has expanded to a total of 2,099 full time equivalents which is over double the recommended increase in the 2001 study. The ratio of civilian staff to Garda strength has also increased from approximately 1 in 13 in 2001 to 1 in 6.8 at the end of last year. This has been achieved over a much shorter timeframe than that envisaged in the 2001 study.

Civilian staff carry out a wide range of functions both administrative and technical and are recruited to senior management and executive grades as well as at clerical level. It is important to note that civilianisation does not necessarily imply the direct replacement of Gardaí with civilians, but that it can take a number of forms. Firstly, there is the replacement of sworn members, who are engaged in exclusively clerical, administrative or technical duties, with civilian staff. Secondly, there is the use of civilian support which allows sworn members who would otherwise have to perform some administrative duties to focus exclusively on front-line policing duties. Thirdly, there is the recruitment of civilians to perform new or expanded administrative, managerial and professional support roles in An Garda Síochána.

On this account, and because of the significant restructuring of roles, functions and business areas that has taken place at all levels of An Garda Síochána since 2001, it is very difficult to quantify the exact number and associated costs of posts which were occupied by sworn members in 2007 and 2008 and which could be occupied by civilians. Furthermore, such an exercise would not reflect the full extent and impact of the Garda Síochána civilianisation programme to date.

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