Martin Kenny
Question:781. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the estimated cost of recruiting and employing an additional 1,000 civilian staff for An Garda Síochána. [18441/20]
View answerTuesday, 28 July 2020
Questions (781)
Written answers
The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Commissioner is the accounting officer of An Garda Síochána and is statutorily responsible for carrying on and managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána including human resource matters. As Minister, I have no responsibility for these matters. I am assured however, that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities, to their optimum use.
I am further informed by the Garda authorities that as of 30 June 2020, there are over 3,000 Garda staff undertaking administrative, professional, technical and industrial support duties in the organisation. The Government's current objective is to increase that level to 4,000 in 2021.
I am informed that such staff positions range from clerical support and financial management functions to senior management, including specialised roles in HR, IT and telecommunications, as well as finance and procurement, internal audit, communications, research and analysis, accommodation, scene-of-crime support and legal and medical services. Large numbers of Garda staff also work in key operational areas including the Central Vetting Bureau, the Information Service Centre, the Fixed Charge Processing Office and the Command and Control Centre.
Bearing in mind this broad range of duties, I am advised by the Garda authorities that the estimated cost of employing an additional 1,000 Garda staff would be approximately €45m in a full year, on the basis of an average estimated cost per civilian employee of approximately €45,000, including employer costs such as PRSI.
It should be noted that these estimated figures do not take into account the considerable additional costs that would be incurred in respect of accommodation, ICT, overtime and so on.