Written answers

Wednesday, 6 December 2017

Department of Justice and Equality

Garda Policing Plans

Photo of Róisín ShortallRóisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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158. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the performance measures used by An Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52293/17]

Photo of Charles FlanaganCharles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that the Policing Authority is an independent statutory body established on 1 January 2016 to oversee the performance of An Garda Síochána in relation to policing services, to promote public awareness of policing matters and to promote and support the continuous improvements in policing in Ireland.

The Policing Authority is required under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, as amended, to determine priorities and targets for An Garda Síochána in performing its functions relating to policing services. The Annual Policing Plan, which is a public document, forms the core of the Garda Síochána performance framework.  It contains a range of performance targets across the key chapters of the Plan. These Chapters are:

- Organisational Development and Capacity Improvement

- National and International Security

- Confronting Crime

- Roads Policing

- Community Engagement and Public Safety.

The performance targets apart from those specific to national and international security issues are established by the Policing Authority with my approval under Section 20(b) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005. There are a number of different types of targets contained in the Policing Plan and the Policing Authority has sought to ensure that they are as specific and measurable as possible. The various types are:

- Recorded crime levels across key crime types

- Detection rates across the key crime types

- Timeframe targets for the completion of particular pieces of work

- Targets set relating to particular pieces of work, ex. numbers recruited, numbers redeployed, numbers trained in a particular area of policing, specific allocation of resources to a particular area e.g. roads policing

- Attitudinal measures coming from the independently conducted Garda Attitudinal survey.

The Plan also has regard to targets contained in national strategies to which the Garda Síochána are a party, for example the National Road Safety Strategy and the COSC Strategy.

I am advised that there are over 80 targets in the draft Policing Plan for 2018 across all the areas of policing.

Photo of Róisín ShortallRóisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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159. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will report on the outcome of the GRACE programme within An Garda Síochána; the aspects of this programme that remain in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52294/17]

Photo of Charles FlanaganCharles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware there is an extensive programme of reform currently underway affecting all aspects of the administration and operation of An Garda Síochána. This follows the Government's approval in July 2016 of a Five Year Reform and High Level Workforce Plan for An Garda Síochána which combines the Government’s response to the Garda Inspectorate report 'Changing Policing in Ireland' and the commitments in the Programme for a Partnership Government aimed at increasing the visibility, effectiveness and responsiveness of An Garda Síochána.

The Policing Authority is performing an important task in overseeing the current reform process and in supporting the Gardaí in implementing the reform agenda. Its third progress report which I published on 14 September identifies welcome progress in a number of areas including -

- Significant progress in the work of the Garda Victims' Services Offices.

- The establishment of four Protective Services Units on a pilot basis,

- The completion of the Garda Deployment Survey

- Positive progress in the development and implementation of the Divisional/functional model of policing

- Progress on ICT projects,

- The Executive Director of Strategy and Transformation has taken up his post,

- Good progress on the implementation of improved risk management.

I have made it clear that implementation of the ambitious reform programme must continue and, indeed, must move at a greater pace, to ensure the best possible policing services to the people of Ireland. To support An Garda Síochána in addressing the concerns highlighted by the Authority a structured process of engagement is in place between my Department and An Garda Síochána to identify and agree corrective actions. This engagement includes formal monthly meetings at senior official level with the Deputy Commissioner for Strategy and Governance, the Chief Administrative Officer and the newly appointed Executive Director of Strategy and Transformation of An Garda Síochána.

I believe the only way to deliver world class policing in Ireland is to ensure that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs and that those resources operate in an organisation whose culture is open and responsive and where the best management systems and practices are deployed.  I am confident that the reform plan that is being pursued by An Garda Síochána, supported by the Government and overseen by the Policing Authority, has the capacity to achieve this.  It will not be done overnight but as I have made clear, the implementation of the ambitious reform programme must continue and, indeed, must move at a greater pace, to ensure the best possible policing services to the people of Ireland.

The GRACE (Garda Response to a Changing Environment) programme to which the Deputy refers was introduced in 2011 to co-ordinate a significant number of on-going work streams and programmes. The overall objective of GRACE was to eliminate or substantially reduce the budget deficit within An Garda Síochána and to demonstrate leadership willingness and capability to address immediate, medium and longer-term financial challenges, in collaboration with other agencies. I have asked the Garda Commissioner for the specific information requested in relation to the outcome of this programme and what aspects remain in place and I will revert to the Deputy upon receipt of same.

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