Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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305. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the estimated full year cost of employing ten new front-line gardaí. [23257/19]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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There has been an unprecedented level of investment in An Garda Síochána in recent years. The budgetary allocation to An Garda Síochána for 2019 amounts to €1.76 billion, which includes provision for sustained recruitment to An Garda Síochána this year. The Garda Commissioner has informed me that he intends to recruit 600 trainee Gardaí in 2019 and it is positive that the number of sworn Garda members is now in excess of 14,000, with 200 more Gardaí having attested on 7 June. An Garda Síochána remains on track to reach the target of 15,000 sworn Garda members by 2021.

Very significant capital investment is also being made, including investment of €342 million in Garda ICT infrastructure between 2016 and 2021; and investment of €46 million in the Garda Fleet over the same period. This continuing investment in people and capital supports the Government’s commitment to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and deter crime.

In accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 as amended, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for managing and controlling the administration and business of An Garda Síochána and for the allocation of Garda resources, in light of identified operational demands. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the estimated full year cost of employing 10 newly attested Gardaí is €441,316. This estimate includes the basic salary (at the first point on the Garda pay scale), fixed allowances, an estimate of variable allowances (which newly attested Gardaí may qualify for depending on their assignments) and employer’s PRSI.

This estimate does not include any payments made to trainee Gardaí while attending the Garda training college for 32 weeks, nor does it include the impact of any pay increases (including the 1.75% pay rise scheduled for 1 September 2019).

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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306. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the estimated full year cost of employing ten new administration staff in An Garda Síochána. [23258/19]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The resources provided by Government to An Garda Síochána have reached unprecedented levels, with an allocation for 2019 of €1.76 billion. Very significant capital investment is also being made, including investment of €342 million in Garda ICT infrastructure between 2016 and 2021; and investment of €46 million in the Garda Fleet over the same period.

The Garda Commissioner is responsible for managing and controlling the administration and business of An Garda Síochána, including by arranging for the recruitment and training of personnel. Further, the allocation of Garda resources and distribution of personnel are a matter for the Commissioner, in light of identified operational demands.

I am pleased to say that recruitment of Garda members and staff is ongoing. Since the beginning of 2017, just under 480 new Garda staff posts have been sanctioned by the Policing Authority with the consent of my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The Government provided funding in Budget 2019 to sustain continued recruitment into An Garda Síochána and, as part of this recruitment, the Commissioner decided to recruit a net 600 Garda Staff this year, which will facilitate the ongoing programme of civilianisation in An Garda Síochána and allow for redeployment of approximately 500 experienced Gardaí to frontline policing duties by the end of this year. This fully reflects the Governments’ continuing support for the Commissioner in reaching the target of 4,000 Garda staff by 2021.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that as of 30 April 2019, there were approximately 2,600 Garda staff undertaking administrative, professional, technical and industrial support duties.

I am further informed that such staff positions range from clerical support and financial management functions to specialised roles in HR, IT and telecommunications, as well as teaching, finance and procurement, internal audit, communications, research and analysis, accommodation, scene-of-crime support and legal and medical services. Large numbers of Garda staff also work in operational areas including the Garda Central Vetting Bureau, the Garda Information Service Centre, the Fixed Charge Processing Office and the Command and Control Centre.

Bearing in mind this broad range of duties, I am advised by the Garda authorities that the estimated cost of employing ten new administration staff would be approximately €450,000, on the basis of an average estimated cost per civilian employee of approximately €45,000, including employer costs such as PRSI.