Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 55: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform to indicate which of the recommendations contained in the latest report of the Garda Inspectorate on resource allocation will be implemented during 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35377/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by the Garda Commissioner, that following the publication of the Garda Inspectorate Report on Resource Allocation, Deputy Commissioner Strategy and Change Management was appointed to consider the report and to co-ordinate an agreed and pragmatic programme of work to advance the implementation of the twenty-seven recommendations. My officials will work closely with the Garda Síochána and the Garda Síochána Inspectorate on implementation of the recommendations in order to maximise efficient allocation of Garda resources.

While every effort will be made to progress the recommendations of the Garda Inspectorate Report on Resource Allocation, it is recognised by both An Garda Síochána and the Garda Inspectorate that, due to the current economic situation, there is limited scope to fund change proposals. Where recommendations involve significant capital costs, interim measures, where possible, will be considered until such time as funding is available for full implementation. However, implementation of some recommendations will not require capital investment and I am keen to make progress, in particular, on necessary revision of Garda rosters, the implementation of which is included under the Transformation Agenda which has been agreed with the Garda representative bodies. I am also keen to progress an examination of station opening hours as part of measures to improve the matching of Garda resources to the demand for policing services.