Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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325. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he can provide an update on the roster discussions taking place within An Garda Síochána. [8003/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, which includes the deployment and rostering of staff. As Minister, I have no role in the management of these functions.

The Deputy will know that the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland concluded that Garda rostering arrangements should be replaced by tailored rosters that work better for both police and the communities they serve.

I am regularly informed by the Commissioner on matters impacting Garda members, including matters related to rostering. The current Garda roster was introduced by the Commissioner to deal with the specific policing requirements that arose during the Covid pandemic. It was always intended by the Commissioner to be a temporary roster, to be replaced in due course.

There has been engagement over a prolonged period of time on the matter of roster reform. To assist this process an independent facilitator was appointed in July 2021. He published his recommendations on roster reform in August 2022 following intensive discussions with Garda Management and Garda Associations.

The Commissioner, the Association of Garda Chief Superintendents, and the Association of Garda Superintendents have accepted these new proposals. The Associations of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors rejected the proposals following a ballot of their members and the Garda Representative Association rejected them without a ballot. Garda Management continues to engage on the matter in line with An Garda Síochána dispute resolutions procedures.

In the meantime, the Commissioner has confirmed that the current roster will remain in place until 16 April 2023. The Commissioner has also confirmed that any new roster will be notified to all members three months of it coming into operation.

Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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326. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he can provide an update on the current Garda recruitment processes. [8004/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, the Commissioner is responsible for the recruitment and training of Garda members. I am advised that the initial stages of the Garda recruitment campaign are managed on the Commissioner's behalf by the independent Public Appointments Service.

PAS is responsible for accepting and processing applications as well as the first three stages of the process, namely:

Stage 1 online aptitude tests,

Stage 2 report writing exercise and

Stage 3 interview.

PAS will also check eligibility and qualification of applicants against the competition criteria prior to any successful candidate's name being provided to An Garda Síochána.

Stage 4 of the process is managed by An Garda Síochána and includes a Physical Competency Test (PCT), medical evaluation, vetting and substance misuse (controlled drug) testing.

The Commissioner and his team have assured me that the target to recruit 1,000 new Gardaí in 2023 will be achieved.A new Garda recruitment competition will be commenced in the coming months.

Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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327. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he can provide an outline of the internal services available to gardaí who encounter a mental health difficulty in the course of their work. [8006/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will appreciate the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes responsibility for personnel and human resources matters. 

Garda management have introduced a suite of measures in recent times to support members including the Employee Assistance Service (available to all Garda members, staff, retired members and their families); a 24/7/365 telephone helpline and counselling service provided by Inspire Wellbeing; and a Peer Support Network.

The Employee Assistance Service (EAS), through Employee Assistance Officers, is available to provide a confidential, professional, support and assistance service to members to help resolve work or personal issues that are causing stress, worry or disruption to an individual’s life. In conjunction with EAS, the Peer Supporter Programme was established within An Garda Síochána. Peer Supporters are colleagues who have received appropriate training to help fellow Garda members.

In 2021 An Garda Síochána launched 'Keeping Our People Supported', the Health and Wellbeing Strategy Statement and Action Plan 2021-2023. This plan identified three key goals to improve the health and welfare of members of An Garda Síochána.

The goals were to identify, communicate and enhance existing resources to promote health, wellbeing and work ability across the organisation, to develop partnerships with key stakeholders inside and outside An Garda Síochána in order to to build capacity, and to provide support and advice.

A new wellbeing app called Keeping Our People Supported was launched as part of the strategy. The app makes support available to members of An Garda Síochána 24/7 and can be accessed on any mobile device. It was created to ensure members who may be distressed and in need or urgent assistance can access the supports available to them at any time.

Arising from the findings of the Garda Cultural Audit 2022, the Commissioner has acknowledged that while there are many positives within the service, it is clear that the organisation has more work to do to ensure that people are being supported in their very challenging work.