Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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704. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if an evaluation of the current model for supervision and or debriefing for members of An Garda Síochána (AGS) post-traumatic events has been conducted; if so, the finding of that evaluation; if there options for those attending repeated tragic events to be given reprieve from frontline service in order to ensure wellbeing and longevity within AGS; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43908/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, which includes Garda HR matters. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.

I want to make it clear that I am very aware of how stressful and difficult the work of members of An Garda Síochána can be. I have made it a priority as Minister to ensure the funding is in place to sustain the wellbeing and support initiatives as requested by the Garda Commissioner. This includes €1.5 million allocated in Budget 2025 for Garda workforce wellbeing measures.

To be of assistance to the Deputy, I am informed by the Garda authorities that there are a number of support systems in place to promote sustained wellbeing of Garda personnel in line with the Health and Wellbeing Strategy, including:

• Psychological Support Programme (PSP)
• KOPS Wellbeing App (it features a ‘Help Me Now’ button to connect Gardaí to immediate help 24/7, 365 days a year)
• Direct Supervisor
• Peer Supporters
• Workplace Chaplaincy
• Garda Employee Assistance Service
• Garda Occupational Health Service
• Inspire Wellbeing - the free 24/7, confidential helpline

An Garda Síochána is committed to ensuring that members exposed to a traumatic incident receive the appropriate organisation response. It recognises that the continued wellbeing of each member is essential from a personal level and contributes to the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the Organisation.

In an attempt to negate the harmful effects of traumatic incidents, the Employee Assistance Service (EAS), through Employee Assistance Officers, is available to provide a confidential, professional, support and assistance service to members who may have been involved in a traumatic incident in work. The service is available to help resolve work or personal issues that are causing stress, worry or disruption to an individual’s life.

In conjunction with EAS, a Peer Supporter Programme was established within An Garda Síochána. Peer Supporters are colleagues who have received appropriate training in helping members cope with the effect of a traumatic incident in the workplace. Very often in circumstances of traumatic incidents, the immediate notification to, and response from a peer supporter, has a huge impact in assisting colleagues in the aftermath of such occurrences. There are over 1,100 personnel trained within the Organisation. They are available in all Garda Districts and are activated following a traumatic incident. Following each traumatic incident, a peer supporter is activated. They will contact the member and offer support. In the event that the peer supporter deems it appropriate, they may refer the member to the Employee Assistance Service.

Employee Assistance Officers (EAO) have received accredited training in Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) and are available to facilitate, and have delivered welfare interventions and response in the aftermath of critical/traumatic incidents such as De-Fusing, De-Briefing, Group Intervention and One to One Intervention. This intervention is delivered upon assessment and evaluation by the Employee Assistance Service with local management in respect of the nature and impact of the incident/event.

Since 24 June 2016, a 24/7, 365 Independent Helpline and Counselling Service is available to all staff within An Garda Síochána. This service is available for both work and personal difficulties. The service is provided by Inspire Wellbeing, is not mandatory and is self-referral. Each member of the Organisation may avail of six free sessions of counselling per year, an additional two will be provided if clinically approved.All appointments and consultants are arranged directly between the Service Provider and the staff member.

In addition, trauma-based counselling is now available to all personnel following on from a traumatic incident in work. This counselling is a self-referral and is accessed through the same helpline, but the individual indicates to the call taker that the request is as a result of a traumatic incident. Trauma counselling provides 6 free sessions to the individual and additional 6 if clinically approved per trauma. If further sessions are required a request will be made to Occupational Health Department.

Occupational Health and the Chief Medical Officer also provide support to personnel who are referred via local management following injuries on duty, sickness absence or traumatic events. The decision to stand down personnel is an operational matter for Garda Management.

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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705. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda cars in Wicklow available to respond to call outs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43910/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I can assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to providing An Garda Síochána with the resources needed to Keep People Safe. This is reflected in the unprecedented allocation of €2.48 billion in Budget 2025. This represents a 27% increase in funding since 2020.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of Garda resources. As Minister, I play no role in these independent functions.

There are now over 3,500 Garda vehicles, which represents a 34% increase since 2015.

I am assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of policing priorities and crime trends.

The table below, provided to me by the Garda authorities, outlines the strength of the Wicklow District fleet as of 30 September 2024.

I am informed Wicklow District is part of the recently merged Wexford/Wicklow Division, under the new Garda Operating Model. The responsibility for the efficient deployment of all official Garda vehicles in each Division is assigned to the Divisional Officer, who may allocate vehicles between stations as required by operational circumstances.

I am further advised the purchase and allocation of vehicles by An Garda Síochána is made on the basis of identified operational demands, the availability of resources, and is reviewed on a continual basis.

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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706. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality for details of the remit of the Garda employee assistance officer; if this is a sufficient resource available to all personnel; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43911/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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We are all immensely grateful to our Gardaí for their outstanding dedication and commitment to serving the public. Policing as a profession can expose people to sometimes traumatic and challenging incidents.

I know Garda Management are conscious of the need to ensure appropriate supports are in place to provide assistance to all staff, particularly given the demands of modern policing. I am assured that the support structures currently in place remain under ongoing review to ensure they continue to meet the needs of Garda members and Garda staff and their families.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda Employee Assistance Service provides a proactive response by An Garda Síochána to support members and staff and their families, at an early stage, in managing and resolving personal difficulties in order to assist them in maintaining their health and wellbeing.

The Employee Assistance Service (EAS), is a confidential, professional, support service to help individuals resolve work or personal issues that are causing stress, worry or disruption to their individual life. It is a confidential service available to serving and retired members of An Garda Síochána, Garda Staff, their families, Trainee and Probationer Gardaí and retired members of external police services and their families’ resident in the State.

I am advised that there are presently 17 full time Employee Assistance Officers delivering this service nationally. 11 Employee Assistance Officers have completed a Diploma in Employee Assistance and Social Support which was delivered by National University of Ireland, Galway.

6 additional Employee Assistance Officers have joined the Employee Assistance Service over the past 18 months and began their BA in Employee Support and Wellbeing in September 2024, and will conclude in June 2025. This course is delivered by the South East Technological University- Waterford.

All Employee Assistance Officers also undergo and complete Continuous Professional Development with courses undertaken with many agencies, for example:

• Irish Hospice Foundation Education Courses
• Mental Health First Aid Training in conjunction with St John of Gods Hospital, Dublin
• ASSIST Training,
• HSE Training programmes
• CISM –Critical Incident Stress Management Training

• A Peer Support Programme was established within An Garda Síochána and works in conjunction with the Employee Assistance Service. Peer Supporters are colleagues who have received appropriate training in helping members cope with the effect of a traumatic incident in the workplace. There are approximately 1,100 personnel trained within An Garda Síochána to provide peer support. They are available in all Garda Divisions.
• Since June 2016, a 24/7, 365 Independent Helpline and Counselling Service is available to all personnel within An Garda Síochána. This service is available to assist with both work and personal difficulties. The service is not mandatory and is self referral, and is provided by Inspire Wellbeing. Each member of the Organisation may avail of 6 free sessions of counselling per year, an additional 2 will be provided if clinically approved.
• In addition, trauma-based counselling is also available to all personnel following a traumatic incident. This counselling is a self-referral and is accessed through the same helpline, but the individual indicates to the call taker that the request is as a result of a traumatic incident. Trauma counselling provides 6 sessions to an individual with an additional 6 sessions if clinically approved per trauma. If further sessions are required, a request will be made to the Chief Medical Officer, Occupational Health Service.
• The Psychological Support Programme is designed to support Garda personnel working in certain areas risk- assessed as being particularly psychologically hazardous in nature, in the form of confidential mandatory psychological support, confidential voluntary psychological support and emergency intervention procedures.
• The KOPS (Keeping Our People Supported) App was created as part of the Health and Wellbeing Strategy and launched in May 2021. The goal of the app is to provide Garda members and staff with access to information on key supports and services on a 24/7 basis. There is a particular focus on mental health and common concerns that they may have either at home or work.
• The Garda Chaplaincy through provide ongoing and invaluable spiritual support to all staff within An Garda Síochána.