asked the Minister for Justice the number of posts vacant at the rank of sergeant, inspector and superintendent in the Garda Síochána at 31 October 1988; the number of applications on hand for these vacant posts at present; if he has satisfied himself with the level of attendance at in-service training courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Garda Síochána Statistics.
54.
The numbers of vacancies in the approved strength of the sergeant, inspector and superintendent ranks of the Garda Síochána on 31 October 1988 were 190, 37 and 29, respectively.
As already announced, the Government made 19 superintendent appointments with effect from 4 November. The newly promoted superintendents had been successful at competitive interviews conducted in June-July of this year for which a total of 164 inspectors presented themselves. Further promotions to the rank are likely.
The Garda authorities have informed me that a total of 927 gardaí applied for the competition currently in progress for promotion to sergeant rank and that 309 applications have been received from sergeants who wish to compete for promotion to inspector. Promotions to the ranks of sergeant and inspector will be made on completion of these interviews.
When does the Minister propose to fill the 190 vacancies at sergeant level?
The Deputy will be aware that recently the Government decided to restrict the one in ten ratio for promotions across the public service to one in three for Garda promotions. We will be filling 50 promotions out of these 190 vacancies at sergeant level and competitions are already under way for the filling of these vacancies.
May I tell the Minister, and his colleague, the Minister for Finance, Deputy MacSharry, who has just arrived, that it is highly undesirable and very dangerous to treat our police force in this manner? To leave 140 vacancies at sergeant level will have serious effects on morale in the Garda Síochána. My information is that the non-filling of these vacancies and low morale in the force are affecting the level of attendance at in-service training courses. I appeal to the Minister and the Government to realise that they cannot run the Garda Síochána in the same way as the Civil Service.
Please Deputy Barrett, you are making a speech.
There are provisions in the Act which require the sergeants to take certain action before the law can be implemented. Will the Minister give the House an assurance that every step will be taken by him and his Government to fill all these vacancies immediately?
I hope I am correct when I take it that the Deputy is complimenting me on achieving a ratio of one to three for the Garda rather than the one in ten ratio which exists throughout the service as a whole.
I am not complimenting the Minister, I am asking him to fill all the vacancies.
I am calling the next question.
It is rubbish to talk about the Garda and the Civil Service in this way.
I am calling the next question.