Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 May 2023
488. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 462 of 9 May 2023, if he has received the necessary information from the Garda authorities to have this PQ answered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25645/23]
View answerI understand that Parliamentary Question No. 462 of 9 May 2023 refers to the number of Senior Investigating Officers (SIOs); and the total full-time equivalent of each child protection unit since 2019 to-date in 2023, in tabular form.
As the Deputy is aware, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for managing and controlling the administration and business of An Garda Síochána, including the deployment of Garda resources and training of Garda personnel. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.
A Senior Investigating Officer is appointed to investigate serious crime occurrences and critical incidents by a Divisional Critical Incident Management Team, which comprises of a Chief Superintendent, Superintendent and Detective Superintendent.
I am informed that the figures provided in the table below relate to the numbers of Garda members by Division that have completed Stage 1 of the SIO programme over the past 5 years.
I am also informed that it is not possible to breakdown the Senior Investigation Officers assigned specifically to a particular unit, as the SIO is appointed to take the lead in any serious investigations including sexual assaults and child protection, within a Division.
The Senior Investigating Officer programme is primarily aimed at Detective Inspectors who are tasked with the leadership and management of serious crime investigation and critical incidents.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the figures below represent the assignment of SIOs at time of training and movement of personnel within Divisions can affect these figures.
|
Division |
No. |
|
A/C Special Crime Operations |
1 |
|
CAB |
1 |
|
Cavan Monaghan |
3 |
|
Clare |
2 |
|
Cork City |
4 |
|
Cork North |
2 |
|
Cork West |
2 |
|
Criminal Investigation Bureau |
3 |
|
DMR East |
2 |
|
DMR North |
9 |
|
DMR North Central |
7 |
|
DMR South |
5 |
|
DMR South Central |
8 |
|
DMR West |
10 |
|
DOCB |
3 |
|
Donegal |
2 |
|
Economic Crime Bureau |
1 |
|
Ex Dir & Comm Tech |
1 |
|
GNBCI |
1 |
|
GNIB |
2 |
|
GNPSB |
4 |
|
Galway |
2 |
|
Governance & Accountability |
2 |
|
Kerry |
4 |
|
Kildare |
3 |
|
Kilkenny / Carlow |
1 |
|
Laois / Offaly |
3 |
|
Limerick |
4 |
|
Louth |
4 |
|
Mayo |
2 |
|
Meath |
2 |
|
Roscommon Longford |
3 |
|
Security & Intelligence |
4 |
|
Sligo / Leitrim |
1 |
|
Special Crime Operations |
1 |
|
Special Detective Unit |
3 |
|
Technical Bureau |
1 |
|
Tipperary |
2 |
|
Waterford |
2 |
|
Westmeath |
3 |
|
Wexford |
2 |
|
Wicklow |
5 |
|
Total |
127 |
Please note that these figures are operational and may be subject to change.
