Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

119. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality when she expects to progress with the hiring of civilians to undertake administrative work within An Garda Síochána in order to free up gardaí to detect and prevent crime; if there are any specific districts or divisions in which the hiring of civilians will commence or has already commenced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31672/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I was pleased to announce on Budget day that the Government has approved my proposal that by 2021 the overall Garda workforce should comprise a total of 21,000 personnel; to include 15,000 Garda members, 2,000 Garda Reserve members and 4,000 civilians.

I have been informed that on the 31 August 2016, the latest date for which figures are readily available, there were 1,951 civilians undertaking administrative and technical duties within An Garda Síochána. 4,000 civilians will effectively double this figure and represents a medium term target of 20% civilians by 2021. This will bring An Garda Síochána, currently with 14% civilians, more into line with international norms and ensure that trained Gardaí are not engaging in administrative and technical duties which could be done by suitably qualified civilian staff. The Garda Inspectorate, in its 2015 report "Changing Policing in Ireland" has estimated that there may be up to 1,250 Gardaí currently in such posts and the Government's plan aims to return as many of these Gardaí as possible to front-line duties over the next five years. With this in mind, the Garda Commissioner, in conjunction with the Policing Authority, has been requested to identify posts suitable for redeployment by the end of the year and to prepare a 5 year plan for reaching the 20% medium term target.

The recruitment and appointment of up to 500 civilians provided for in Budget 2017 will facilitate the Garda Commissioner in addressing capacity and critical skills gaps across the organisation including in corporate supports, change management, human resources and financial management at the national, regional and Divisional level. These appointments will make an important contribution to the delivery of the ambitious reform agenda set out in the Commissioner's Modernisation and Renewal Programme 2016-2021 and will facilitate deeper civilianisation in the coming years.

In addition, and again flowing from the recommendations of the Garda Inspectorate, the Commissioner has commenced the roll-out on a pilot basis of a Divisional model of policing to replace the current District model. The benefit of the Divisional model is that responsibilities will be allocated on a functional rather than geographical basis which will facilitate greater flexibility in the deployment of resources in response to policing needs. It also will have the benefit of reducing duplicate administrative tasks currently done at both the District and Divisional level. In this regard the Commissioner has estimated that 10 Gardaí will be freed up for front-line duties in each Division once the model is fully rolled out. The roll-out will be done on a phased basis and in such a manner as to ensure that the close relationship between Gardaí and local communities is maintained.

As the Deputy will appreciate, the Commissioner is responsible for the recruitment and distribution of civilian staff in An Garda Síochána and I, as Minister, have no direct role in these matters. Garda management keeps such matters under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use is made of these resources.