Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 287: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the licensing costs imposed by the Private Security Authority are more than ten times those of Northern Ireland; that alarm installers do not require a licence in Northern Ireland; the number of licences issued by the PSA since its establishment; the amount of money collected for those licences; the cost to the Exchequer of PSA salaries and administration during that period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25821/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Private Security Authority, established under the Private Security Services Act 2004, is the regulatory body with responsibility for regulating and licensing the private security industry. The Authority is an independent body under the aegis of my Department.

It is considered inappropriate to compare the licensing costs associated with the private security industry in the State with those in place in Northern Ireland, given the significant differences that exist in the regulation of security contractors in each jurisdiction. In comparison to the mandatory licensing system which is operated by the Private Security Authority, the Security Industry Authority (SIA) in Northern Ireland operates a voluntary scheme of registration for contractors in the security industry. This voluntary scheme is not in fact open to contractors involved in the installation of intruder alarms as this sector was precluded from the legislation establishing the SIA. Any direct comparison of costs between the two schemes would therefore be fundamentally flawed, when one considers the voluntary nature of the SIA scheme against the standards based mandatory licensing scheme administered by the Private Security Authority, with its associated regulatory responsibilities, including substantial enforcement costs.

With regard to the other issues raised by the Deputy, the Authority has informed me that it has issued approx 1,600 contractor licences since the introduction of contractor licensing in 2006. Most contractors are now on their second licence, as the two year licences originally issued began to expire in 2008. There are currently 844 active contractor licences. In addition, the Authority has issued approximately 23,500 individual licences to date. The first individual licences are due for renewal in January 2010.

I am also informed by the Authority that, since its establishment in 2005, it has received, up to the end of May 2009, a total of €7.9 million in licence fees while the total costs of salaries and administration were €8.4 million. Taking into consideration the start up costs involved in all such projects, the Authority, in line with Government policy, is now on target to fund the regulation of the security industry through the fees raised.

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 288: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a private security firm working for the Corrib gas project of a company (details supplied) and which employs over 50 security personnel does not require those personnel to wear uniforms or identifying badges contrary to the statutory terms of the licence issued by the Private Security Authority; if he will ensure that this company no longer breaches the law; if he will inform the local gardaí to ensure that personnel of the company who are in contact with the public at the Belanaboy site have clear identification markings at all times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25831/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Private Security Authority, established under the Private Security Services Act 2004, is the regulatory body with responsibility for regulating and licensing the private security industry. The Authority is an independent body operating under the aegis of my Department.

Section 30 of the Private Security Services Act, 2004 provides for the wearing of identity badges when providing a security service. It is envisaged that Regulations, to bring these provisions into effect, will come into force on 1 September 2009.

With regard to the wearing of uniforms by individuals who have been licensed by the Private Security Authority, I am informed by the Authority that employees of the company referred to by the Deputy wear a uniform which complies with IS.999:2004. This is the Irish standard which is required for licensing by the Authority. I am further informed that these particular staff also wear a high visibility vest with markings which identifies them as staff of that company.