Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 October 2007
117 Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his proposals for further civilianisation of the Gardaí in order to free trained members for front line duty; his views on the view expressed in the final report of the Advisory Group on Garda Management and Leadership Development that progress in regard to civilianisation has been risible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22482/07]
View answerI am informed by the Garda authorities that the number of full time and part time civilian staff assigned to An Garda Síochána as at the 1st October 2007 was 2,247. 250 Clerical Officers have been recruited and assigned positions within the Garda Síochána since 1st January 2007. The Government has authorised the Garda Commissioner to recruit a further 350 civilians to release trained members of the force for front-line duty.
The civilianisation of middle and senior positions in An Garda Síochána has commenced. Currently, there is a Chief Administrative Officer, Director of Finance, Head of Internal Audit, HR Manager, Housing Officer, Transport Manager and a civilian of Principal Officer grade in the Information Technology section. A Civilian Director of Communications will take up her post this month. Recruitment for the following positions will start in the coming weeks — Director of Information and Communications Technology, Director of Change Management, Head of Legal Affairs and Executive Director of Human Resources. This will be in addition to the recruitment of a number of civilian crime analysts.
The current campaign to recruit the balance of the authorised additional civilian support staff for An Garda Síochána is well underway and interviews are being held by the Public Appointments Service to recruit these Clerical Officers.
A dedicated Human Resource Directorate has been established within An Garda Síochána to serve the needs of the civilian administrative, professional, technical and industrial staff in An Garda Síochána and to promote an extensive programme of civilianisation.
I am assured by the Commissioner that An Garda Síochána is committed to achieving the greatest level of civilianisation consistent with the effective and efficient functioning of the Force and will continue to work to drive the civilianisation programme forward.
