Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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134. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the recommendations made by the Garda Inspectorate in its previous reports that have not yet been implemented, in tabular form; and the timeframe in which she expects to deal with them. [31733/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Commissioner published her Modernisation and Renewal Programme 2016-2021 in June. This Programme captures recommendations from the various Inspectorate Reports as well as other Government-commissioned reports over recent years, including the most recent Inspectorate Reports - 'Crime Investigation' and 'Changing Policing in Ireland'.

In July, the Government approved a Five Year Reform and High Level Workforce Plan for An Garda Síochána. This Plan marries the agreed recommendations in 'Changing Policing in Ireland' with a major investment programme that will increase the number of gardaí to 15,000; double the number of civilians to 4,000; and more than double the number of reserves members to 2,000. This investment in human capital is supported by a €300 million capital plan that will deliver leading-edge technology and other capital infrastructure to the Garda Síochána. The 2017 Estimates reflect this commitment by providing the resources to recruit 800 gardaí, 500 civilians and 300 reserves in 2017.

Implementation of the Modernisation and Renewal Programme is primarily a matter for the Commissioner. However, the Government decided that the Policing Authority should be requested in accordance with section 117(A) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) to monitor and assess the implementation of the agreed recommendations in 'Changing Policing in Ireland' and to report to me at regular intervals. I have made this request to the Authority and expect to receive the first such report in January 2017.

Separately, I am advised that the Garda Inspectorate and the Garda Síochána are working towards the production, in tabular form, of a current implementation status report of the recommendations contained in a number of Garda Inspectorate Reports and this report will be published on the Inspectorate's website when it is completed.