Vol. 500 No. 1
280 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí engaged in full-time administrative duties that could effectively be performed by civilian staff thereby freeing up Garda resources to be more efficiently deployed on productive policing work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3433/99]
The Garda authorities have informed me that they consider the number of gardaí at present engaged in full time administrative duties that could effectively be performed by civilian personnel is 207.
The Deputy may also wish to note that the steering group on the efficiency and effectiveness of the Garda Síochána, in its report published by the Government in November 1997, concluded that further civilianisation opportunties exist within the Garda Síochána. Arising from this report, a review of the role of civilians within the Garda Síochána is currently under way to determine the number of posts and the types of duties that might be civilianised.
