Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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289. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she is in favour of the payment of Private Security Authority licences by instalment, given the low pay of many workers in security; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2168/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Private Security Authority (PSA) is the regulatory body with responsibility for regulating and licensing the private security industry in the State. The PSA is an independent body under the aegis of my Department and the setting of the Authority's fees is a matter for which the PSA has statutory responsibility.

The PSA issues both contractor and individual (employee) licences. In December 2015, having considered the licence fee structure for individual licences, the PSA replaced the previous 2 year individual licence with a new 3 year licence. This new licence was introduced following a review of licensing charges with a view to reducing the overall cost of licensing for employees. As a result of this change the annual cost of a licence has been reduced for all such licence holders by an average of 25%.

The Authority had advised me that the new 3 year licence for a Security Guard costs €90 while a licence for a Door Supervisor or individual working in the Cash-in-Transit sector costs €150. Where an individual applies for licences in 2 sectors at the same time they received a discount of €20 in the fee payable.

The PSA has previously looked at introducing an instalment payment scheme for individual licensing. However, the cost of administering any such scheme would have to be included in the licence fee and the PSA feels that such an imposition on licence holders is not warranted particularly in light of the relatively small cost of the licence.