Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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96. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of civilian personnel currently employed by the Garda; the number it is proposed to recruit; the units to which they are or will be deployed, in tabular form; if statutory instrument 109/1990 will need to be amended to allow the deployment to other units of personnel currently employed in specialist units that will be freed up as a consequence of the employment of civilian personnel; if the statutory instrument is to be amended, when this will be done; the issues that will be considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9565/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and Units and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. I am assured by the Garda Commissioner that the allocation of Gardaí is continually monitored and reviewed taking into account all relevant factors including crime trends, demographics, and security assessments relating to the area in question so as to ensure optimal use is made of Garda human resources.

The Government has an agreed overall vision for the Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021 to include 15,000 Garda members, 2,000 Garda Reserve members and 4,000 civilians. This very substantial investment in personnel is driven by our commitment to ensuring that all citizens have the reassurance of a visible, responsive and effective policing service.

At present there are approximately 2,000 civilians in the organisation carrying out senior management, administrative and technical roles. 4,000 civilians will effectively double this figure and represents a medium term target of 20% civilians over the next 5 years. This will bring An Garda Síochána, currently with 14% civilians, more into line with international norms and ensure that trained police men and women are available for and utilised in operational areas.

To support the implementation of this vision, Budget 2017 has provided funding for 800 Garda trainees, 300 Reserves and up to 500 civilians. The recruitment and appointment of these additional civilians 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 levels, 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.

The Garda Commissioner has agreed that the 20% target will be achieved through a twin-track approach: firstly, the identification of Gardaí filling roles that could be done by suitably qualified civilians of whom the Garda Inspectorate has indicated there may be in the region of 1,500, and secondly, the application of a "civilian by default" policy. Under this policy all new posts, other than operational policing posts, and non-operational policing posts that become vacant, will be filled by civilian staff with the appropriate skills and expertise. Having regard to the Policing Authority's statutory functions in relation to approving the number and grades of civilian staff in An Garda Síochána, and making senior appointments, I have requested the Commissioner, in conjunction with the Authority, to prepare a 5 year plan to achieve the 20% target through the rigorous application of these policies. Work is underway on this plan and I am informed by the Authority that of the 500 civilians to be recruited this year, Garda management has indicated that some 30% will lead to redeployment opportunities which is a very welcome start on a road that has the potential to make a huge contribution to ensuring that we have an effective and efficient police service.

SI 109/1990 provided that members appointed with special technical qualifications and assigned to serve in particular sections of the Garda Síochána under Regulation 14 of SI 164/1988 (Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments) Regulations 1988) were not eligible for transfer to any other section or part of the organisation, on promotion or otherwise. Both of these statutory instruments have been revoked by SI 485/2006 (Garda Síochána (Promotion) Regulations 2006) and SI 470/2013 (Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments) Regulations 2013) respectively.

Subsequent regulations continue to provide for appointments of persons with special aptitudes, knowledge, skills or technical qualifications as members in certain circumstances without compliance with all of the normal provisions applicable to trainee Gardaí. Such appointments are rare and in the past would have included, for example, persons with ICT expertise. Such expertise is now secured through recruiting civilian staff. Obviously there is no intention that members appointed under any of the above regulations and who do not have the necessary training and skills for front-line policing would be redeployed. Where appropriate, any such posts which do not require policing powers and could be filled by suitably qualified civilians will be filled in the future using the "civilian by default" policy at such a time as the posts become vacant.