asked the Minister for Justice (a) the number of ban-ghardaí in the Force, (b) the number on prison duties, (c) the type of other duties normally performed by them, and (d) if there are any proposals to increase the number of Ban-Ghardaí.
Written Answers. - Ban-Ghardaí.
174.
At present the total number of women in the Force is 35—of whom five are ban-sairsintí and 30 ban-ghardaí.
It has been the practice, for security reasons, not to give information in regard to the number of gardaí on duty in the prisons.
Ban-ghardaí perform general police duties including beat and traffic duty. Some, however, are assigned to special duties such as acting as juvenile liaison officers and dealing with drug abuse.
The present target is to increase the number of women in the Force to 58 and women wishing to compete for the new posts will be able to sit for the next Garda entrance examination which will be held in January.