Joe McHugh
Question:504. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will indicate when recruitment to an Garda Síochána is likely to recommence. [18890/13]
View answerGarda Recruitment
Questions (504)
Written answers
I have made it quite clear on a number of occasions that my objective is to ensure that numbers will not fall below 13,000. I have also said that I intended to shortly bring proposals on this to Cabinet. Of course, if new members of the Force are to be recruited I have to ensure the funds exist to pay them. In this context, unfortunately, the situation that we now face is that there is currently no new agreement on public pay issues but there is still a projected €300 million budgetary shortfall in 2013. Accordingly, my bringing such proposals to Cabinet will obviously have to be delayed until such time as Government has had an opportunity to reflect on how we are to progress matters.
Garda Strength
Questions (505)
Seán Ó Fearghaíl
Question:505. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of promotional positions, sergeants, inspectors, superintendents and so on, still available to be filled by the Garda Síochána nationally broken down by county. [18901/13]
View answerWritten answers
The current permitted strength in each rank above Garda rank is as follows:- Sergeant 2,000, Inspector 300, Superintendent 166, Chief Superintendent 45 and Assistant Commissioner 9. The strengths of these ranks on 31st March 2013 were Sergeant 1,933, Inspector 294, Superintendent, 153, Chief Superintendent, 41 and Assistant Commissioner 9. These figures include the most recent promotions to Inspector and Sergeant ranks on 28th March 2013 but do not include appointments to the rank of Superintendent (14) and Chief Superintendent (4) which are expected in the very near future. While regulations have previously provided for the numbers permitted in each rank, these have been upper ceilings for those numbers, rather than target strengths, and are set at a national rather than local level. It is therefore not generally practical to indicate precise levels of vacancies at the different ranks in specific locations.
Garda Deployment
Questions (506, 507)
Seán Ó Fearghaíl
Question:506. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of serving Garda sergeants, inspectors, superintendents in County Wicklow. [18902/13]
View answerSeán Ó Fearghaíl
Question:507. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of serving Gardaí in each station in County Wicklow. [18903/13]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 506 and 507 together.
I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength of each Garda Station in the Wicklow Garda Division broken down by rank on 28 February 2013, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was as set out in the table hereunder:
|
District/Station |
Gda |
Sgt |
Insp |
Supt |
C/Supt |
Total |
|
Baltinglass |
||||||
|
Baltinglass |
29 |
5 |
1 |
35 |
||
|
Blessington |
18 |
2 |
20 |
|||
|
Carnew |
3 |
1 |
4 |
|||
|
Dunlavin |
2 |
2 |
||||
|
Shillelagh |
1 |
1 |
||||
|
Tinahely |
2 |
2 |
||||
|
Bray |
||||||
|
Bray |
101 |
16 |
5 |
1 |
1 |
124 |
|
Enniskerry |
5 |
1 |
6 |
|||
|
Greystones |
29 |
4 |
33 |
|||
|
Newtownmountkennedy |
3 |
1 |
4 |
|||
|
Wicklow |
||||||
|
Arklow |
29 |
4 |
1 |
34 |
||
|
Ashford |
7 |
2 |
9 |
|||
|
Aughrim |
2 |
2 |
||||
|
Avoca |
2 |
2 |
||||
|
Rathdrum |
3 |
1 |
4 |
|||
|
Roundwood |
3 |
1 |
4 |
|||
|
Wicklow |
40 |
6 |
1 |
1 |
48 |
|
|
Total |
279 |
44 |
8 |
2 |
1 |
334 |
There are also 36 Garda Reserves and 22 Civilians attached to the Wicklow Garda Division.
Garda Vetting Applications
Questions (508)
Finian McGrath
Question:508. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding Garda clearance in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5. [18921/13]
View answerWritten answers
I am informed by the Garda authorities that two vetting applications on behalf of the person concerned were received by the Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) on 19 March 2013 and 5 April 2013. The applications are being processed and will be returned to the registered organisation once completed.
Garda Vetting of Personnel
Questions (509)
Eric J. Byrne
Question:509. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality in view of the delay in implementing the National Vetting Bureau Act 2012 if he will clarify the categories of employees currently are legally required to have been Garda vetted in order to take up employment; . if persons working on State sponsored work experience programmes – CE, Tús, JobBridge and so on are subject to the same requirements as for other employees who are legally required to have been Garda vet ted; when the new requirements regarding Gardavetting under the 2012 Act will come into effect. [18975/13]
View answerWritten answers
The Garda Central Vetting Unit provides employment vetting for approximately 20,000 organisations in Ireland, registered with the Unit for this purpose. There is a legal obligation under various acts to conduct vetting in respect of a number of different employment sectors:
- Public Service Appointments, including Government Departments, Local Authorities, Customs and Excise, An Post, the Private Security Authority, the Defence Forces, An Garda Síochána etc.
- Certain public transport licences, such as Taxi Licensing, road hauliers etc.
- Persons licensed to work as medical practitioners, nurses, teachers etc.
In addition, it is Government policy that persons working with children or vulnerable persons, such as carers, child care workers, youth workers, community and sports workers, religious workers, leisure centre workers etc. should be vetted. In that context, persons working on State sponsored work experience programmes – CE, Tús, JobBridge require vetting if the work involves the provision of services to children or vulnerable persons. The National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Adults) Act 2012 gives legal effect to this vetting requirement.
The Minister is in consultation with his colleagues to determine the appropriate date for commencement of the 2012 National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012.
Question No. 510 answered with Question No. 499.
Air Ambulance Service Provision
Questions (511)
Denis Naughten
Question:511. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide a geographic breakdown of call outs by the aeromedical service to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18749/13]
View answerWritten answers
On 4 June last year a twelve-month pilot Emergency Aeromedical Support (EAS) service, supported by the Air Corps, commenced operating out of Custume Barracks, Athlone. The service was established by agreement between my Department and the Department of Health to assess the level and type, if any, of dedicated emergency aeromedical support needed to assist the National Ambulance Service for certain types of patient, particularly in light of the requirements of the HSE Clinical Care Programmes such as Acute Coronary Syndrome and Stroke. A review of the pilot service is currently underway and is being carried out by an Audit and Evaluation Group established under the agreement. A Report, with recommendations, will be submitted for consideration by my colleague, the Minister for Health, before the end of the pilot period.
The review will examine the operational data, including costs and clinical outcomes. All relevant data concerning the missions undertaken is currently being compiled and, while full details are not yet available, I can confirm that EAS missions have been concentrated on the west of Ireland as this area was the geographical focus of the pilot service.
Defence Forces Equipment
Questions (512)
David Stanton
Question:512. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Defence if Ireland will be represented at the international conference on Opportunities for Innovation Oriented Procurement in the Defence and Security Sectors in Leiden, the Netherlands, on the 25 and 26 of April 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18821/13]
View answerWritten answers
I am advised this Conference has been rescheduled to a date, to be confirmed, later in the year. My officials dealing with procurement will consider the question of attendance by Department officials and or Defence Forces personnel when revised dates have been confirmed.