Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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116. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her Department's policy in regard to gardaí carrying out administrative duties as opposed to using other civil servants to perform these duties in order that as many gardaí as possible are doing the job they have been trained for; the instructions she has given Garda management to ensure that Government policy in this regard is actioned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5460/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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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 am informed by the Garda Commissioner that there are currently in the region of 2,000 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. I have requested the Garda Commissioner, in conjunction with the Policing Authority, to prepare a 5 year plan to achieve this 20% target by way of a twin-track approach (i) a civilian by default policy and (ii) the redeployment of Gardaí to operational policing posts and backfilling by suitably qualified civilians where necessary.

The "civilian by default" policy refers to a policy where all new posts, other than operational policing posts, and non-operational policing posts that become vacant, are to be filled by suitably qualified civilian staff. In relation to the redeployment policy, I have requested the Commissioner, in conjunction with the Authority to identify posts suitable for redeployment having regard to the indicative figure of 1,500 posts identified by the Garda Inspectorate in its report "Changing Policing in Ireland". These policies are designed to ensure that members of An Garda Síochána, trained police men and women, are available for and utilised in operational areas. The Authority, in view of its statutory functions in relation to approving the number of civilian staff in An Garda Síochána and appointing or approving the appointment of such staff has an important role to play in this regard.

The recruitment and appointment of up to 500 civilians provided for in this year's budget will facilitate the 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 and also to begin the phased redeployment of Gardaí to front-line policing roles. These additional resources 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 having regard to Garda Inspectorate report I have already mentioned, 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.