Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 March 2017
48. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding members of the An Garda Síochána who were injured seriously in the line of duty and have been accommodated with their employment and in situations in which an arrangement has been put in place for lighter duties; the number of such instances in place in An Garda Síochána; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14605/17]
View answerAs the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible the allocation of all resources, including personnel, and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter.
I have requested the specific information sought, from the Commissioner and when it is to hand I will forward it to the Deputy.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A
As previously advised the Commissioner is responsible for the allocation of all resources, including personnel, and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter.
I am advised by the Commissioner that employees of An Garda Síochána are facilitated, when necessary, with accommodations in workplace arrangements following periods of absence, on medical advice. Such accommodations may include adapted patterns of working time, modifications of duties, which are afforded to employees to facilitate their reintegration into the workplace.
I am further advised that An Garda Síochána is committed to supporting all employees for medical or recuperative reasons following injury or a period of illness and will continue to afford all reasonable accommodations to employees as deemed necessary in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer.
I am informed that as of 31 December 2016, the latest date for which figures are readily available, the number of Garda members, being facilitated with light duties or restricted hours, as a result of an injury on duty, and on the recommendation of the Chief Medical Officer, was 134.
