Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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174. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of civilian members of An Garda Síochána as of 24 November 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51304/17]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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176. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of civilians in the Garda workforce in each Garda division on 31 October 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50725/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 174 and 176 together.

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 I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use is made of these resources.

I am informed by the Commissioner that, as of the 31 October 2017, the latest date for which numbers are readily available, there were 2,151 full time civilian staff members working throughout the organisation carrying out senior management, administrative and technical roles.I am further informed that the attached table details the number of civilian staff currently deployed in each Garda Division as of that date. The balance of civilian staff are attached to Garda Headquarters and carryout various roles including in HR, Finance, ICT, as well as the Garda College.

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. The projected 4,000 civilians will effectively double the current figure and represents a medium-term target of a Garda organisation 20% comprised of civilians. The 20% target will be achieved through a twin-track approach of firstly, 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, secondly, the redeployment of Gardaí to policing roles where their skills can be used to best effect with the backfilling of these roles by suitably qualified civilians where necessary.

So far this year some 150 additional civilians have been recruited to An Garda Síochána. This has allowed the filling of critical skills and capacity gaps across the organisation and will facilitate the redeployment of the first batch of 43 Gardaí. By quarter 1 next year the Commissioner projects that some 160 Gardaí will have been redeployed. This is a welcome start but as illustrated by the Garda Inspectorate Report "Changing Policing in Ireland" there is considerable scope for redeployment to operational policing. The Inspectorate Report identified some 1,500 posts that could be suitable. Furthermore Garda management completed an organisation deployment survey earlier this year which identifies some 2,000 posts for further examination in this regard. It will take a determined effort by Garda management over the next number of years to achieve redeployments on this scale but I can assure the Deputy of the Government's commitment to the target of 20% and to ensuring that the unprecedented investment in the workforce and other resources for An Garda Síochána are used to optimum effect to provide effective policing services across the country.

The Deputy may also wish to be aware that a number civilians have been appointed to newly created senior leadership posts to support the major reform programme underway including an Executive Director for Strategy and Transformation and an Executive Director for Legal And Compliance. A competition is underway for another critical senior post, that of Chief Data Officer. This transformation of the composition of the senior team will assist in bring diverse perspectives and management skills to the top levels in the organisation.

I am pleased to say that I have secured funding for the recruitment of up to a further 500 civilians in Budget 2018 to support the continuation of this major programme of civilianisation.

Garda Civilian Strength 31 October 2017