Dáil Éireann Debate, Friday - 16 September 2016
84. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of forensic accountants currently employed by her Department of under her aegis or under the aegis of the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25015/16]
View answer85. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to increase the number of forensic accountants working for her Department or working for her Department but based in another Department; if so, the number by which; and if not, the reason therefor; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25016/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 84 and 85 together.
I am advised by my officials that there is currently one full-time Forensic Accountant employed by my Department in the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB). As a result of the exit of staff there are currently two vacancies for Forensic Accountants in CAB and my Department is working with the Public Appointment Service to appoint suitable candidates in order to fill these vacancies as quickly as possible.
My Department is currently engaged in Workforce Planning and will, as part of that process, be assessing resource requirements for 2017 to 2019 including the necessity for any specialist skills that may be required by the Department to effectively discharge all of its functions. Any requirements for forensic accountants will be assessed in the context of this Workforce Planning process.
There are also two Forensic Accountants assigned to the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (formerly Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation) and a competition to appoint a further two forensic accountants to the Bureau has recently been completed, under the auspices of the Public Appointments Service.
Garda personnel assigned throughout the country, together with overall policing arrangements and operational strategy, are continually monitored and reviewed and is determined by a number of factors including population, crime trends and as the policing needs of each individual division dictates. Such monitoring ensures that optimum use is made of Garda resources, and the best possible Garda service is provided to the general public.
