asked the Minister for Justice the number of ban-ghardaí due to be recruited in the forthcoming year and following years; and if he intends to have at least one ban-gharda available in each Garda station for the purpose of female strip searches and investigations of sensitive crimes such as rape and assault.
Written Answers. - Recruitment of Ban-Ghardaí.
548.
Limerick East): Present plans are to appoint approximately 50 ban-ghardaí over the next 12 months but the precise number will depend on the level of vacancies arising from resignations, retirements and deaths during that period. No decision has been made at this stage as to the numbers to be recruited in subsequent years.
The Garda authorities have informed me that, while it is not proposed to have a ban-gharda assigned to each Garda station on a permanent basis, ban-ghardaí are, in fact, assigned to all Garda Divisions. In the Dublin Metropolitan Area all rape victims are invariably assisted by a ban-gharda who is positively involved in interviewing the rape victim and arranging for a medical examination. However, this is not always possible in rural areas. When a case of alleged rape is reported to a station to which no ban-gharda is permanently assigned every effort is made to temporarily assign a a ban-gharda to assist in the investigation. All strip searches of females are carried out by ban-ghardaí.