Martin Brady
Question:393 Mr. M. Brady asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when it is planned to replace gardaí on clerical duties with civilian staff. [30122/04]
View answerTuesday, 23 November 2004
Questions (343, 344)
Written answers
I refer the Deputy to my response to Question No. 428 of 17 November 2004. In 2001 the Government approved an extensive programme of civilianisation to be introduced on a phased basis over a number of years. The programme provided for the civilianisation of a number of technical and administrative posts in the short, medium and long term, the transfer of the finance function from Garda district clerks to civilian staff, and the transfer of civilian staff from my Department to the Garda Síochána as civil servants of the State.
The transfer of civilian staff of my Department to the Garda Síochána is provided for in the Garda Síochána Bill 2004 which is currently before the Oireachtas, while the transfer of the finance function is now almost complete. However, the next phase of the civilianisation programme including the civilianisation of the posts above will have to be rolled out within the confines of the Government decision of 4 December 2002, which placed a cap on numbers across the civil and public service. My Department is currently reviewing the position with both the Department of Finance and Garda management as to how we will proceed further with Garda civilianisation in the context of the overall constraints of civil and public service numbers.
Martin Brady
Question:394 Mr. M. Brady asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí in the drug squad unit in the Dublin north-east area (details supplied). [30123/04]
View answerI am informed by the Garda authorities, which are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, that the personnel strength of the drug squad unit in the Dublin north-east area as at 22 November 2004 was 26, all ranks. I am very pleased to say that the Government has approved my proposal to increase the strength of the Garda Síochána to 14,000 members on a phased basis, in line with the agreed programme for Government commitment in this regard. This is a key commitment in the programme for Government, and its implementation will significantly strengthen the operational capacity of the force. The Commissioner will now be drawing up plans on how best to distribute and manage these resources. However, the additional resources will be targeted at the areas of greatest need, as is envisaged in the programme for Government. The programme identifies in particular areas with a significant drugs problem and a large number of public order offences, but it will be possible to address other priorities as well, such as the need to significantly increase the number of gardaí allocated to traffic duties. One thing I have already promised is that the additional gardaí will not be put on administrative duties. They will be put directly into front line, operational, high visibility policing and they will have a real impact.