As the Deputy will appreciate, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for carrying on and managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána, including by arranging for the recruitment and training of the members of An Garda Síochána. Further, the allocation of Garda resources is a matter for the Commissioner, in light of the availability of resources and his identified operational demands. As Minister I have no direct role in these matters.
I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the estimated full year cost to An Garda Síochána of employing an additional five analysts at Higher Executive Officer, HEO, level within the cyber-crime unit is approximately €289,501. This is based on the mid-point of the HEO pay scale currently in effect from 1 October 2018 and an estimate of employer’s PRSI.