Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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186. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the progress made on finding the remains of a person (details supplied) from County Tipperary who was granted a posthumous pardon in 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33652/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I wish to assure the Deputy that it remains my Department’s objective to do what can be done to identify and return the remains of the person to whom he refers. 

A range of steps have been taken to date, which have been of assistance, but which have also highlighted the complexity and scale of the project.  Taking the project further has also been hampered by the restrictions on movement in response to the Covid - 19 pandemic.  My Department will continue to try to make progress to identify and return the remains of the person in question who was granted a posthumous pardon in 2016.

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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187. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda trainees who had a third-level degree qualification in each of the years 2015 to 2020, in tabular form. [33797/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy may be aware, under Section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for generally managing, administering and carrying on the business of An Garda Síochána.

I am informed that the table below, which has been provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of Garda trainees who held a third level degree (or higher) qualification in each of the years 2015 to 2020 in advance of commencing training in the Garda College.

The Deputy may also wish to be aware that on completion of the Trainee Garda/Probationer programme Garda members are awarded a B.A. in Applied Policing, which is the Foundation Programme for Garda Trainees.

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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188. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the approximate cost of implementing the recommendations of the future of policing report on recruit training; and if a breakdown of these costs will be provided by line item in tabular form. [33798/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána, unfortunately I have not received this information in time. I will write to the Deputy as soon as the information is to hand.

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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189. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the approximate current cost of recruiting 800 Garda trainees. [33799/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána, unfortunately I have not received this information in time. I will write to the Deputy as soon as the information is to hand.

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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190. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the approximate current cost of recruiting 1,500 Garda civilian staff. [33800/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Commissioner is the accounting officer of An Garda Síochána and is responsible under the law for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including human resource matters. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters. I am assured however, that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities, to ensure their optimum use.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that as of 31 May 2021, there are over 3,100 Garda staff undertaking administrative, professional, technical and industrial support duties in the organisation.

I am informed that such staff positions range from clerical support to senior management roles, including specialised roles in HR, IT and telecommunications, as well as 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 key operational areas including the Central Vetting Bureau, the 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 cost of recruiting 1,500 additional Garda Staff is approximately €67,500,000. This was calculated by using an estimated cost per employee of €45,000, which includes employer costs such as PRSI.

It should be noted that these estimated figures do not take into account the considerable additional costs that would be incurred in respect of consequential overheads such as accommodation, ICT and overtime.