Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if, under the Private Security Services Act 2004, a person in the security business operating as a sole trader with no employees and who holds a contractor's security licence from the Private Security Authority also requires an individual licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17054/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Private Security Authority, an independent agency under the remit of my Department established under the Private Security Services Acts 2004 and 2011, is the regulatory body with responsibility for regulating and licensing the private security industry in the State.

There are two types of licence issued by the Authority: 'Contractor Licences' are required by companies, partnerships and sole traders providing security services, whereas 'Individual Licences' are required by all those working in the security sector, e.g. a person who is employed by a licensed contractor or a person employed directly by a business as in-house security personnel. Currently contractors operating in the Cash-in-Transit, Door Supervisor, Security Guarding and Installer of Security Equipment sectors need a licence while individuals working in the Door Supervisor and Security Guarding sectors must be licensed.

Consequently where a sole trader provides a security service as a contractor in the Door Supervisor or Security Guarding sectors but also performs the security guarding/door supervisor duties on the ground (i.e as an individual) both licences are then required. The reason this is necessary is because such a sole trader must meet the same set of standards as any other contractor while at the same time having the required qualifications to perform those duties as any individual.