Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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490. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the expected timeframe for when the private security agency sector will finish the development of training and standards for enforcement officers as per the Private Security Services (Amendment) Act 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59104/21]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Private Security Authority, established under the Private Security Services Act 2004, as amended, is responsible for the licensing and regulation of the private security industry in the State.

The Authority is an independent statutory body under the aegis of my Department and I have no involvement in the day-to-day operations of the Authority.

Following the enactment of the Private Security Services (Amendment) Act 2021, which provided for the regulation of enforcement guards, the Authority established a working group to develop the requirements for licensing. The working group, comprising representatives of security industry employees and employers, An Garda Síochána, auditing bodies, training providers and security contractors will develop the necessary standards and training.

The initial focus of the working group has been on the requirements for contractors working as enforcement guards and the working group has developed a standard for the sector which is expected to go to public consultation later this week.

The work on the training requirements for employees has begun, however this work is more complex and will take some time to complete.

The training course will be accredited by Quality Qualifications Ireland (QQI) and form part of the National Framework of Qualifications.

I am advised by the Authority that it is their intention to licence contractors working in the sector in the first quarter of 2022 using the new standard.

A decision on whether to licence employees at the same time using an existing licence category pending completion of the training development is currently under consideration.

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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491. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if enforcement officers are currently covered by the Private Security Services (Amendment) Act 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59106/21]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Private Security Services (Amendment) Act 2021 was signed into law by the President on 12 July 2021. This is an important piece of legislation allowing the Government to bring the regulation and licensing of security personnel assisting those enforcing court orders for evictions and repossessions within the remit of the Private Security Authority.

The 2021 Act provides for the insertion of an additional category and a definition of ‘enforcement guard’ in the list of security services covered by the Private Security Services Act 2004. Bringing enforcement guards within the remit of the Private Security Authority will require them to obtain a licence to operate and ensure that they are subject to the training standards and licensing regime operated by the Authority.

Sections 1, 3 – 8 and Section 2(1)(a), other than insofar as it relates to the insertion of the definitions of “court messenger” and “enforcement guard” into section 2(1) of the Private Security Services Act 2004 (No. 12 of 2004), were commenced on 21 July 2021. Section 2(1)(a) provides for the inclusion of an additional category and a definition of an 'enforcement guard' in the list of security services covered by the Private Security Services Act 2004.

The Authority are currently developing the training and standards required for this new category of security service. In conjunction with this work, the Authority are preparing the regulations that will be needed to prescribe the licensing of enforcement guards and it is the intention to commence Section 2(1)(a) as soon as the regulations are complete.