Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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81. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the recommendations of the Garda Síochána Inspectorate in its Changing Policing in Ireland report, in tabular form; the actions which have been taken on each recommendation to date; the planned actions on each recommendation; the anticipated timeframe for implementation of each recommendation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17218/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Last July, the Government approved my proposals for a Five Year Reform and High Level Workforce Plan for An Garda Síochána which combines the Government’s response to the report of the Garda Inspectorate report 'Changing Policing in Ireland' and the commitments in the Programme for a Partnership Government to increase the visibility, effectiveness and responsiveness of An Garda Síochána. Of the 81 recommendations in the Inspectorate report 74 were directed to the Garda Commissioner. Of these, 71 were accepted or accepted subject to modifications. The vehicle for the implementation of the agreed recommendations is the Garda Commissioner's Modernisation & Renewal Programme 2016-2021, the overall aim of which is to modernise and professionalise An Garda Síochána for the 21st century. Key agreed reforms include the roll-out of a Divisional model of policing and further civilianisation.

Government has agreed that the current District model of policing will be replaced on a phased basis with a Divisional one where responsibilities are allocated on a functional rather than a geographical basis subject to appropriate modifications to meet the needs of large rural Divisions and ensure that the close relationship with communities is maintained. Four pilots are in train and are due to be evaluated later this year. The number of regions and Divisions will be maintained at six and 28 respectively for the time being but will be reviewed as the Divisional model is rolled out.

In relation to civilianisation, the Government, in line with international experience, agreed a medium term goal of 20% civilians to be adopted for the overall Garda workforce to be achieved through (i) a 'civilian by default policy to be adopted in relation to the filling of all new posts other than operational policing posts and for non-operational policing posts that become vacant and (ii) redeployment of Gardaí and backfilling by suitably qualified civilians where necessary. Garda management is developing a workforce plan to achieve this.

I have referred the agreed recommendations of the Inspectorate report to the Policing Authority in accordance with section 117A(2) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 to monitor and assess their implementation by An Garda Síochána and to report progress to me on a quarterly basis. I received the first progress report from the Authority in January. The second is due later this month. Given the scale and five-year time frame of the reform plan, the Authority reported that its initial attention had been focussed on understanding the agreed recommendations and the MRP, establishing robust structures to ensure a focus is created and maintained on this priority area of work and on identifying a number of priority areas for attention including to ensure that the benefits of investment are realised. In particular, it has established a dedicated committee to undertake this work area. While the report acknowledges that substantive reform will take time and persistence by the Commissioner, it notes a very welcome start on further civilianisation. I expect that reports in due course will include more detailed assessments of the progress, including actions taken and timelines, on the implementation of the agreed recommendations. I have asked my officials to consult with the Authority in relation to how its future progress reports in relation to the implementation could be put into the public domain.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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82. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality when revised implementation updates for all Garda Síochána Inspectorate reports will be made available; the reason no such updates have been published since 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17219/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Garda Síochána Inspectorate was established in July, 2006 under Part 5 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005. The role of the Inspectorate is to promote efficiency and effectiveness in the operation and administration of the Garda Síochána. The Inspectorate undertakes analysis of policies and procedures in the Garda Síochána and benchmarks them against the best practices and standards of comparable police services. To date, the Inspectorate has completed 11 reports. Their two most recent reports were the Crime Investigationreport (2014) and the"Changing Policing in Ireland"report(2015).

The Garda Inspectorate has no statutory responsibility for the monitoring of the implementation of recommendations made in its reports. However, a process to do so was established with the Garda Síochána in 2008 which resulted in the publication of status implementation update reports twice a year on the Inspectorate’s website. The last such regular update was published in November 2013 when, I understand, the process was interrupted due to pressure of work.

However, the Inspectorate and the Garda Síochána are now working towards the production, in tabular form, of a document which will indicate the position regarding the implementation of recommendations contained in a number of Inspectorate reports up to and including the Crime Investigation report. Once completed, the results will be published on the Inspectorate’s website. As the time frame for the conclusion of this work is not clear, my Department has asked for quarterly updates as to the progress in relation to this matter.

It should be noted that the statutory position regarding the monitoring of the implementation of recommendations made in Inspectorate reports has changed. Section 117(A) of the Garda Síochána Act provides for a role for the Policing Authority in monitoring the measures taken by the Garda Síochána to implement the recommendations contained in reports prepared by the Inspectorate.

The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Commissioner published her Modernisation and Renewal Programme 2016-2021 in June 2016. This Programme includes recommendations from the various Garda Inspectorate Reports, including the two most recent Inspectorate Reports referred to above. Key reforms being implemented include the replacement of the current District model of policing with a Divisional model where responsibilities will be allocated on a functional rather than geographical basis. This will be subject to modifications to ensure the close relationship with communities is maintained in large rural Divisions. In line with international norms, a medium term target of 20% civilians to be achieved by 2021 has been set.

The 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 to monitor the implementation of the agreed recommendations in 'Changing Policing in Ireland' and to report to me at regular intervals. I have received the first such progress report from the Policing Authority. Their next progress report is due by the end of April.

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.

The Deputy will be aware that at the Government meeting earlier this week I received approval to begin the process of establishing a Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland. I expect that the Commission will have regard to appropriate structures for oversight and accountability of the Garda Síochána.