Tuesday, 15 Nov 2016

Garda Industrial Relations

Questions (74)

Brendan Howlin

Question:

74. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the costs of the Lansdowne Road agreement on Garda pay for 2017; the areas in which each cost arises and the numbers impacted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34748/16]

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Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality

As the Deputy will be aware, following intensive negotiations between the Government, the Garda Representative Association (GRA) and Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) facilitated by the Workplace Relations Commission, the Labour Court issued a recommendation on 3 November last in relation to the dispute. In the case of individual members, the recommendation for the GRA and AGSI would provide extra remuneration of around €4,000 on average to a member of the Service over the next 12 months through:

- an increase in the value of the rent allowance by €500 bringing it to €4,655 per annum with effect from 1 January 2017;

- the integration of the rent allowance in the new amount of €4,655 into salary with consequential increases in unsocial hours and overtime payments also with effect from 1 January 2017;

- the introduction of a €15 premium payment per annual leave day to compensate for the uncertainty attaching to the taking of leave by Gardaí. This payment will be worth €510 per annum to a Garda with 34 days annual leave;

- the implementation of a long-standing recommendation of the Garda Inspectorate through the introduction of paid 15 minute pre-tour briefing or tasking sessions with effect from 1 January 2017.

Under the Labour Court recommendation, new recruits who do not currently receive rent allowance, will have it restored, in addition to the other improvements I just listed. In addition, the increment freeze in place for GRA members since 1 July will be lifted and any arrears arising from increments foregone will be paid.

The Government has also made it clear that it is committed to introducing legislative change to give the Garda Associations the right of access to the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court.

On foot of the Labour Court recommendation, the GRA and AGSI agreed to defer the intended industrial action over the course of the four Fridays in November to facilitate a ballot of their membership. This was a very welcome decision by the Garda associations and has ensured that a full policing service remains in place.

The Government fully respects the decision of the Labour Court as the independent industrial relations body of last resort in the State and agreed last week to accept its recommendation. The outcome of the process is now being examined in detail by all sides and it is hoped that it will form the basis for a final resolution of this dispute following the balloting of members of AGSI and the GRA in due course.

The independent recommendation of the Labour Court seeks to address the concerns that have been articulated by the representative bodies in relation to their pay and conditions including of new recruits, and their access to the statutory dispute resolution bodies. The nature of the Labour Court's recommendation is such that some of the cost of the implementation of the proposals, if they are accepted by the members of AGSI and the GRA, depend on the amount of overtime worked in any year. That said, I am advised that, depending on a number of variables, the estimated gross annual cost of implementing the Labour Court Recommendation could exceed €50m; however, this gross cost will be offset by statutory deductions for tax, PRSI, etc., which will reduce the net Exchequer cost.

Once the outcome of the ballots is known and if the proposals are accepted, the additional budgetary cost will be the subject of discussions between my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

What is most important at this juncture is that members of AGSI and the GRA are afforded the time and space to give the Labour Court's recommendation the detailed consideration that it deserves.

Haddington Road Agreement Review

Questions (75)

Jim O'Callaghan

Question:

75. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the reason the review of Garda pay and conditions that was to be completed by 1 June 2014 is still ongoing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34839/16]

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Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality

The Haddington Road Agreement provided for a review of An Garda Síochána with the following terms of reference:

To review and make recommendations on the use by An Garda Síochána of the resources available to it, with the objective of achieving and maintaining the highest levels of efficiency and effectiveness in its operation and administration. The review shall encompass all aspects of the operation and administration of the Garda Síochána including, the structure, organisation and staffing of the Garda Síochána; the deployment of members and civilian staff to relevant and appropriate roles; the remuneration and conditions of service of members of An Garda Síochána, including an evaluation of annualised hours/shift pay arrangements; the appropriate structures and mechanism for the future resolution of matters relating to pay, industrial relations and attendant matters.

The Review, as noted by the Deputy, was to be completed by 1 June 2014. However, its commencement was delayed due to differing views between the official side and the Garda Associations as to how it should be conducted. It was eventually decided, well into 2014, that it would be conducted in two parts with the Garda Inspectorate, having regard to its statutory role under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, undertaking a review of the structure, staffing and employment of members, and Mr Ray McGee, formerly of the Labour Court, undertaking the remaining elements concerning remuneration and condition and appropriate industrial relations mechanisms. The Inspectorate has completed its work and its report "Changing Policing in Ireland - Delivering a Visible, Accessible and Responsive Service" was published last December and is in the process of being implemented. The remaining part is nearing conclusion under Mr John Horgan, former Chair of the Labour Court, whom I appointed following the resignation of Mr McGee last May. I understand that Mr Horgan expects to conclude his work in early December and I look forward to receiving his report.

Garda Deployment

Questions (76)

Brendan Smith

Question:

76. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda stations and the number of gardaí in each in counties Cavan and Monaghan on 31 October 2010 and on 31 October 2016; the proportion of the proposed 800 additional recruits in 2017 that are likely to be assigned to counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34669/16]

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Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality

This Government is committed to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and deter crime. To make this a reality for all, the Government has in place a plan to achieve an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021 comprising 15,000 Garda members, 2,000 Reserve members and 4,000 civilians. In 2017, funding has been provided for the recruitment of 800 Garda recruits and up to 500 civilians to support the wide ranging reform plan in train in An Garda Síochána. Appointments will also be made to the Garda Reserve of approximately 300.

Taking account of projected retirements, reaching a strength of 15,000 will require some 3,200 new Garda members to be recruited on a phased basis over the next four years in addition to the 1,200 that will have been recruited by the end of this year since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014. This is an ambitious target and will require a continuous pipeline of suitable candidates. I am pleased to say that the recruitment campaign launched by the Public Appointments Service on behalf of the Commissioner last September, the second campaign this year, again received a strong response.

Since the reopening of the Garda College, 534 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream duties nationwide. I am informed that of these, 15 have been assigned to the Cavan/Monaghan Division. Another 150 trainee Garda will attest this Thursday, 17 November which will bring Garda numbers to around the 13,000 mark by year end.

In so far as the allocation of newly attested Gardaí next year is concerned, this is a matter for the Garda Commissioner and I, as Minister have no direct role in it. I am assured by the Commissioner that the needs of all Garda Divisions are fully considered when determining the allocation of resources. However, it is important to keep in mind that newly attested Gardaí have a further 16 months of practical and classroom based training to complete in order to receive their BA in Applied Policing. To ensure that they are properly supported and supervised and have opportunities to gain the breadth of policing experience required, the Commissioner's policy is to allocate them to specially designated training stations which have the required structures and resources in place, including Garda tutors.

The Government's plan for an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 is complemented by substantial investment in resources across the board for An Garda Síochána. The Deputy will be aware of the significant resources that have been made available to An Garda Síochána under the Government's Capital Plan 2016 - 2021. In particular, some €205 million in additional funding for Garda ICT and €46 million for new Garda vehicles has been allocated over the lifetime of the plan. This investment will facilitate the provision of more effective policing services and I expect that the Cavan/Monaghan Division, like all other Garda Divisions will benefit from these new resources becoming available.

For ease of reference I have provided a breakdown of the detailed information requested in relation to the number of Garda stations and number of Garda assigned to the Cavan/Monaghan Division on 31 October 2010 and 30 September 2016, the latest date for which figures are readily available, for the record.

CAVAN/MONAGHAN DIVISION 31 OCTOBER 2010
Division	Stations	Garda Numbers
BAILIEBORO DISTRICT	BAILIEBORO	40
	BALLYJAMESDUFF	4
	COOTEHILL	6
	KINGSCOURT	1
	MULLAGH	1
	SHERCOCK	1
	VIRGINIA	11
	TOTAL	64
CARRICKMACROSS DISTRICT	BALLYBAY	4
	CARRICKMACROSS	41
	CASTLEBLANEY	30
	ROCKCORRY	1
	TOTAL	76
CAVAN DISTRICT	ARVA	3
	BALLINAGH	1
	BALLYCONNELL	16
	BELTURBET	6
	BLACKLION	3
	CAVAN	64
	DOWRA	1
	KILLESHANDRA	1
	KILNALECK	2
	SWANLINBAR	1
	TOTAL	98
MONAGHAN DISTRICT	CLONES	4
	EMYVALE	2
	MONAGHAN	72
	SCOTSTOWN	2
	TOTAL	80
CAVAN/MONAGHAN TOTAL	25 Stations	318

CAVAN/MONAGHAN DIVISION 30 SEPT 2016
Division	Stations	Garda Numbers
BAILIEBORO DISTRICT	BAILIEBORO	40
	BALLYJAMESDUFF	4
	COOTEHILL	9
	KINGSCOURT	6
	MULLAGH	1
	SHERCOCK	2
	TULLYVIN	0
	VIRGINIA	5
	Total	67
BALLYCONNELL DISTRICT	BALLYCONNELL	29
	BAWNBOY	1
	BELTURBET	4
	BLACKLION	4
	DOWRA	2
	KILLESHANDRA	2
	SWANLINBAR	2
	Total	44
CARRICKMACROSS DISTRICT	BALLYBAY	5
	CARRICKMACROSS	51
	CASTLEBLANEY	24
	CORRINSHIGAGH	2
	ROCKCORRY	1
	SHANTONAGH	2
	Total	85
CAVAN DISTRICT	ARVA	3
	BALLINAGH	3
	CAVAN	69
	KILNALECK	4
	REDHILLS	1
	STRADONE	1
	Total	81
MONAGHAN DISTRICT	CLONES	9
	CLONTIBRET	1
	EMYVALE	4
	MONAGHAN	101
	NEWBLISS	1
	SCOTSTOWN	4
	SMITHBORO	0
	Total	120
CAVAN/MONAGHAN TOTAL	34 Stations	397

Crime Levels

Questions (77)

Shane Cassells

Question:

77. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if recorded crime statistics for County Meath are an accurate reflection of the reality of crime in the area; if all Garda stations in County Meath have access to the PULSE system; if not, the details of the stations without access; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34718/16]

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Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality

Crime statistics are compiled by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) based on PULSE data and the statistics for County Meath reflect all crime incidents recorded by An Garda Síochána for that county.

In recent times, the CSO has carried out two important reviews of the quality of crime statistics, following on concerns raised in the 2014 Report of the Garda Inspectorate on Crime Investigation. The outcome of these reviews are reflective of the quality of the crime figures for all areas of the country.

The first CSO Review, published in June 2015, helped to clarify and quantify many of the issues raised by the Inspectorate. The second review, published in September this year, indicated that the estimated impact of the issues identified in the Garda Inspectorate Report in relation to recorded crime is substantially less than at the first review. I am, however, determined that a strong focus remains on the need for improvements in this area.

I must explain that most crime incidents are recorded via the Garda Information Services Centre (GISC), based in Castlebar. This provides a round the clock service which enables Gardaí to phone in details of a crime incident, and specially trained staff in GISC facilitate its correct recording and classification on PULSE. As a result, a lack of access to PULSE in a particular Garda station should not prevent the accurate recording of crime data. In fact, the latest information from the Garda authorities is that 92% of crime incidents are recorded via GISC, with the balance being recorded by Gardaí directly on PULSE.

Some of the issues raised by the Garda Inspectorate concerned the need for procedures to ensure that the recording of crimes through GISC is maximised. As part of the work to implement the Inspectorate’s very broad ranging recommendations, An Garda Síochána has implemented new measures to improve data quality including a new Incident Recording process. This, together with important upgrades of the PULSE system during 2015, is supporting the improvement of Garda crime data as well as procedures for the supervision of investigations.

It will take time for the full effect of the upgrading of Garda systems to be reflected in the Crime Statistics. In this regard, I understand that the CSO intend to provide further analysis of crime data quality in due course which will help us to gauge, at that stage, how successful the ongoing work to achieve improvements in our crime statistics has been.

For its part, the Government remains committed to supporting this work and this is underlined by the investment of €330 million, including €205 million under the Capital Plan, in Garda ICT infrastructure between 2016 and 2021.

In relation to the specific question of PULSE access for Garda stations, as a number of Deputies have sought similar information in relation to various counties, I propose to provide those Deputies with a table with this information and to include the table in the Official Report.

I might add that the question of enhancing rural access to the Garda network is being examined as part of the Garda Síochána Modernisation and Renewal Programme 2016-2021. This includes plans to introduce mobile technology solutions to enable operational Gardaí to access core information systems, including PULSE, while on duty and away from Garda stations.

However, as I have explained, the availability of PULSE in a given Garda station is not a prerequisite for the accurate recording and classification of crime data.

Division	Names of Garda Stations in these areas without access to PULSE
Co. Meath	Longwood

Brexit Issues

Questions (78)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

78. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she has considered the implications for cross-Border co-operation in justice and policing matters in the context of Brexit. [34825/16]

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Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality

As the Deputy will be aware the Government continues to prepare to face the challenges and opportunities that are presented by the UK's decision to leave the European Union, including in the field of justice and police co-operation.

I have met with the Northern Ireland Justice Minister, Claire Sugden, and with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, James Brokenshire, in recent weeks and months and we have had the opportunity to discuss the potential implications for the UK's exit from the EU for North-South co-operation in justice and policing. We are agreed that it is our shared aim to seek to ensure that the current high levels of co-operation on this island can be continued.

There is close and ongoing co-operation between An Garda Síochána and the PSNI in respect of all aspects of policing. This co-operation is based firmly on a shared commitment to improving community safety throughout the island of Ireland, to disrupt criminal and terrorist activity and to enhance the policing capability of both police services on the island.

There is also strong ongoing co-operation across the range of criminal justice areas involving the Justice Departments and justice agencies North and South that includes initiatives in respect of forensic science, youth justice, probation and the management of offenders and issues relating to the requirements of social diversity in the justice system.

There is also a range of important areas of civil justice to do with contracts, debt recovery and family law, for example, which are based in EU law and would have particular relevance to the circumstances in which people live and do business on the island of Ireland.

Officials in my Department have been working to identify the principal sectoral impacts and opportunities in the short to medium term and to identify priority actions in terms of policy measures relating to North-South justice and policing co-operation. There has been and will continue to be close interaction with officials in the Department of Justice in Northern Ireland in this regard.

There can be no question about the extent to which EU measures in respect of policing and in the criminal and civil justice fields can support actions to combat crime and to improve community safety and support justice. It is essential, therefore, to work to ensure that the greatest possible levels of co-operation can continue to be maintained.

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Investigations

Questions (79)

Mick Wallace

Question:

79. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the GSOC inquiry into events surrounding evidence given to the O'Higgins commission, particularly in relation to a meeting in Mullingar and attempts to undermine the credibility of a person; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34848/16]

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Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality

As the Deputy is aware, on 16 June 2016 I made a referral to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission under section 102(5) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 concerning certain allegations which arose following the publication of the final report of the O'Higgins Commission of Investigation.

Obviously I have to be careful not to say anything which might interfere with the investigation currently underway by GSOC. As the Deputy is aware, the Chairperson of GSOC wrote to me seeking access to certain records of the O’Higgins Commission of Investigation. In view of the provisions of the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004 concerning confidentiality of evidence given before a Commission of Investigation, I sought the advice of the Attorney General on the matter. Having received the Attorney General's advice I wrote to the Chairperson of GSOC pointing out that access to the records in question can be sought through an application to court for an order directing that the material be provided. It is now a matter for GSOC how to proceed.

While the granting of any such order is a matter for the Courts, I will, of course, comply with any such court order.

Accordingly, as the GSOC investigation is on-going, it would not be appropriate for me to comment further on the matter.

Garda Reserve

Questions (80)

John Curran

Question:

80. Deputy John Curran asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda reservists currently stationed in Clondalkin, Lucan and Ronanstown and also in the DMR western; the comparable figures for 2014 and 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34846/16]

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Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality

As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, including Garda Reserves, among the various Garda Divisions and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use is made of these resources. The number of Garda Reserves in the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) West Division on 31 December 2014, 31 December 2015 and on 30 September 2016, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was as set out in the table.

The Programme for Government includes a commitment to double the Garda Reserve to act in a supportive role undertaking local patrols and crime reduction measures.

I am informed that the Commissioner has in recent months assigned a Superintendent to head up the Garda Reserve Management Office and that Office is currently undertaking an audit of the experience and skills of Reserves which, when completed, will assist Garda management in considering the future role to be played by the Reserve. I am also informed that work is ongoing on the development of a recruitment plan with the objective of recruiting and training 300 new Reserves annually starting next year, to bring the strength of the Reserve up from its current strength of 789 members to 2,000.

Number of Garda Reserves DMR WEST	DEC 2014	DEC 2015	SEPT 2016
Cabra	2	1	0
Finglas	8	6	5
Blanchardstown	20	17	8
Lucan	15	14	11
Ronanstown	7	5	4
Ballyfermot	4	4	3
Clondalkin	8	4	4
Rathcoole	0	0	0
Total	64	51	35

Garda Industrial Relations

Questions (81)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

81. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the funding stream that will be used to make additional payments to Garda as a result of recent industrial action; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34824/16]