Vol. 392 No. 9
asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí who are engaged mainly in clerical, secretarial, administrative, storekeeping, vehicle maintenance and other non-police duties; whether he accepts that this is an effective use of Garda resources; and whether he has any proposals for change.
20.
(Carlow-Kilkenny) asked the Minister for Justice the plans his Department have to fill secretarial posts in Carlow town Garda station, in order that gardaí may be released for Garda duties for which they have been trained.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 20 together.
It has been the policy of successive Ministers for Justice to advance civilianisation within the Garda Síochána as far as possible to ensure that gardaí are employed on the police duties for which they are recruited and trained. I am informed by the Garda authorities that at present 682 members of the force are employed full-time on clerical and other administrative duties, five members are employed on stores duties, 53 members are employed as mechanics and 33 members are assigned to duties as ex-officio inspectors of weights and measures.
I am currently reviewing the scope for civilianisation of clerical posts in which the duties do not require the exercise of police powers. All clerical posts, including those at Carlow station, are being taken into account in the course of this review. I hope to complete my review and to bring forward my proposals in the matter in the near future.
Does the Minister accept my contention that because of the increasing crime rate and the lack of gardaí on the streets as a result of the Government allowing the numbers to fall it is absolutely essential that we look to this resource to try to free members of the Garda from non-police duties so that they can be available on the streets and in the housing estates?
The Deputy will be aware that in relation to the numbers within the force there is at the moment a completely new modern training system in operation which involves a two-year training course and that 1,000 young recruits are being brought in for that training. These trainees will go through the system at a rate of about 90 every three months. We will have the best trained young recruits in Europe when this programme is completed. As far as the question of civilianisation is concerned, the Deputy has a very good case and has made a very good point. This is something I have been examining since taking office in the Department and I will be in a position to make a statement on the matter in the very near future.
I am happy with that but——
Sorry, I would like to call your colleague.
I would like to make one point. The Minister is giving the impression that with the new recruits, the number in the force will rise. Does he not accept that by the time these recruits are in the force the total number, through natural wastage and otherwise, will actually have dropped very considerably?
The Deputy will have to awit my proposals in relation to this whole broad issue of the numbers in the force.
You might be able to change——
I want to bring in Deputy John Browne. Please let us hear Deputy Browne's question.
(Carlow-Kilkenny): The position I asked about relates to three clerical posts in Carlow Garda station. While I welcome the Minister's statement that he is going to deal with the matter very shortly, I would like to know, as a newcomer, what “shortly” means. It is absurd to have three gardaí doing clerical work. It would be cheaper to use the resources we have got. I know the Minister will probably have a stock answer for me but I would like to know when I can go back to Carlow and tell these gardaí they can go out to do their duty.
In the very near future.
(Carlow-Kilkenny): As the Taoiseach says, “díreach anois” or something, so that is just as good.
