Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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106. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the estimated full year cost of providing an extra 2,000 civilian staff in An Garda Síochána. [29328/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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As part of its Five Year Reform and High-level Workforce Plan for An Garda Síochána, the Government has agreed an overall vision for a 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 ensure all citizens have the reassurance of a visible, responsive and effective policing service.

The most recent available figure for the number of civilians working in An Garda Síochána is for 30 April 2017, at which point there were 2,098 civilian staff members working throughout the organisation carrying out senior management, administrative and technical roles. The projected number of 4,000 civilians will effectively double the current figure on an incremental basis and represents a medium-term target of a Garda organisation 20% comprised of civilians. That will bring An Garda Síochána, currently 14% comprised of civilians, more in 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. Funding for the recruitment of up to 500 civilians has been provided for this year to support the wider reform agenda.

I am informed by the Garda Authorities that the full year cost of recruiting an additional 2000 civilian staff to An Garda Síochána is approximately €86M. I understand that this figure has been calculated based on an estimated cost per person of €43,000. The precise costs would of course depend on the profile of the personnel to be recruited in terms of their qualifications and level of responsibility within the organisation.