With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 27 and 28 together.
A total of 34 members of the Garda Síochána are attending university courses as a matter of private arrangement and up to 1st April they were facilitated by the Garda authorities by adjustments of the duty rosters so as to permit them to be free at particular times. However, since 1st April, when the hours of work were reduced from 48 to 42 per week, it has not been possible to give this special facility without detriment to the rights of their colleagues in the rostering of duties. I understand from the Commissioner that only ten members have been affected by this change and that no request for discussions on this matter has been received by him from the Representative Bodies.
As I stated in reply to Parliamentary questions on 19th May and 18th June, the question of affording facilities to selected members of the force to attend university courses on a full-time basis is one of the number of matters raised in the Conroy Report to which attention will be given immediately matters of greater priority have been dealt with. I should say, however, that in no case in the public service generally are such facilities granted unless it is clear that attendance at the course will increase the efficiency of the Department concerned.