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Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 December 2020

Tuesday, 8 December 2020

Questions (490, 491, 492, 493)

Neale Richmond

Question:

490. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Justice the supports in place for members of An Garda Síochána injured in the course of their work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41142/20]

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Neale Richmond

Question:

491. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Justice the supports in place for members of An Garda Síochána that receive verbal abuse in the course of their work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41143/20]

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Neale Richmond

Question:

492. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Justice the supports in place for members of An Garda Síochána that are physically assaulted in the course of their work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41144/20]

View answer

Neale Richmond

Question:

493. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Justice the number of members of An Garda Síochána that accessed mental health supports to date in 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41145/20]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 490 to 493, inclusive, together.

As the Deputy is aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes responsibility for personnel and human resources matters. 

I have sought the information requested from An Garda Síochána and will write to the Deputy when I have received it. 

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51. SUBSTANTIVE ANSWER:
I refer to Parliamentary Questions No. 490, 491, 492 and 493 which were for answer on the 8 December 2020, in which you asked for the supports in place for members of An Garda Síochána injured in the course of their work; the supports in place for members of An Garda Síochána that receive verbal abuse in the course of their work; the supports in place for members of An Garda Síochána that are physically assaulted in the course of their work; and the number of members of An Garda Síochána that accessed mental health supports to date in 2020.
As you may recall, the information you requested could not be obtained in the time available and I undertook to contact you again when the information was to hand. The requested information has now been provided by An Garda Síochána.
As the Deputy is aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes responsibility for personnel and human resources matters.
I am very conscious of the hazardous nature of the work undertaken by members of An Garda Síochána and the risks they undertake to protect our communities from harm. For those members who sustain injuries in the course of their duties, the Deputy will be aware that proposals to reform the compensation scheme for Garda members who suffer injuries were published in the General Scheme of the Garda Síochána (Compensation) Bill in May 2017.
The new Scheme is intended to repeal and replace the Garda Síochána (Compensation) Acts 1941 to 1945. The 1941 and 1945 Acts currently provide compensation in respect of death or injury which is maliciously inflicted upon a member of An Garda Síochána while on duty or in connection with their duties.
I am further informed that An Garda Síochána operates an absence management process with an overarching goal to understand and address absence across the organisation and proactively support those on sick absence. The process is owned and managed at District level for Garda members and at Divisional level for Civilian staff. Consistent communication channels are put in place to ensure contact maintained with individuals off sick for more than 14 days.
An Garda Síochána uses Occupational health programmes to support individuals and promote good health. Back to work interviews are conducted with individuals off sick and injured for more than 5 consecutive days or 3 single days in a roster/ 28 day period.
I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that there is a variety of supports in place for members to assist them in dealing with stressful and difficult situations that they may encounter in the workplace.
The Garda Employee Assistance Service is available to members of An Garda Síochána and supports them in managing and resolving personal and work-related difficulties. In addition, there is an independent confidential 24/7 help line and counselling service available to all staff within An Garda Síochána. This service provides all employees with immediate support from accredited counsellors, over the telephone and then, if needed, up to eight face-to-face counselling sessions. These sessions take place in a location within one hour of the employee’s home or place of work. Counselling is provided on a wide range of work and personal issues including critical incidents, trauma, financial issues, relationships, bereavement, stress, conflict, and health. The service is available on a twenty-four hour basis, every day.
I am informed that all supports provided by the Employee Assistance Service are in respect of physical illness or injury, emotional, mental health, personal and/or work related difficulties.
This support and assistance is available to all whatever issue may be causing difficulty in their lives. Inspire Counselling provides Solution focussed based Therapy in respect of personal and/or work related issues and they also provide trauma counselling for personnel following a traumatic work related incident.
I also understand that there is a Peer Supporter Programme operating in each Garda District and that following a traumatic incident a peer supporter, who has received appropriate training in helping colleagues cope with the effect of a traumatic incident in the workplace, will contact the member(s) who were involved in the incident and offer support.
Other mental health supports provided by the organisation to assist employees in maintaining their mental health and wellbeing include a chaplaincy service, the Garda Occupational Health Service, and independent mental health specialists. The Garda Occupational Health Service provides a holistic support to members presenting with a broad spectrum of medical problems and circumstances; this would include presentations unrelated to mental health where the holistic support can involve optimising mental health supports and wellbeing.
Since 24 June 2016, a 24/7, 365 day Independent Helpline and Counselling Service is available to all staff within An Garda Síochána. This service is available for both work and personal difficulties. The service is provided by Inspire Wellbeing and is confidential, free and self-referral.
Under the most recent contract awarded to Inspire Wellbeing, a new 2 tier system is available which includes:
- Solution Focus Based Therapy for life and work events
- Trauma Focussed based Counselling, delivered by qualified trauma counsellors
The Mental health of members and Garda staff is vitally important. Between September and December 2018 approximately 88 personnel in An Garda Síochána were trained in “Mental Health First Aid Ireland”. This training was delivered by St John of Gods in conjunction with the HSE. The course is designed for non-mental health professionals to learn how to assist someone who is developing a mental health problem or is in a mental health crisis. The training covers the most common problems, as well as the most severe scenarios. However, the mental health first aid principles can be applied across all settings.
In addition to this three members of the Employee Assistance Service completed a Train the Trainer Course in Mental Health First Aid Ireland in January 2020. It was planned to roll out a 2 day on site training programme throughout the Organisation in 2020 with a maximum of 20 personnel to be trained per course. However, due to Covid-19 and following all guidelines and restrictions, that training will now take place in 2021
The Garda organisation is conscious of the need to provide support to all staff particularly in the complex area of modern policing and therefore the supports structures are continuously reviewed to ensure they meet the needs of the membership.
In relation to the number of Garda members that have accessed mental health supports in 2020, I am advised by the Garda authorities that 26 members were referred for counselling or sanction was provided for extra sessions of counselling at 3 December 2020.
I trust that this information is of assistance.
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