Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 December 2004
5 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of the 496 positions which have been civilianised to date with reference to the civilianisation of Garda posts approved by the Government in 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32605/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer the Deputy to the Minister's response to Question No. 428 of 17 November 2004. This response outlined that, in 2001 the Government approved an extensive programme of civilianisation to be introduced on a phased basis over several years, which includes the posts to which the Deputy referred. The programme provided for the civilianisation of these posts in the short, medium and long term, the transfer of the finance function from Garda district clerks to civilian staff, and the transfer of civilian staff from the Department to the Garda Síochána as civil servants of the State. In addition, of the 1,024 clerical, administrative and services posts filled by civilians in the Garda Síochána, some 112 are district finance officer positions occupied by staff officers.
The transfer of further civilian staff of the Department to the Garda Síochána is provided for in the Garda Síochána Bill 2004, which is before the Seanad, while the transfer of the finance function is almost complete. However, the next phase of the civilianisation programme, including the civilianisation of the posts to which the Deputy referred, must be rolled out within the confines of the Government decision of 4 December 2002 which placed a cap on numbers across the Civil Service and public service. As a matter of priority, the Department is undertaking a review with both the Department of Finance and Garda management as to how it will proceed further with Garda civilianisation in the context of the overall constraints of Civil Service and public service numbers.
The Government has increased the strength of the Garda Síochána from fewer than 10,800 in 1997 to 11,750 by June 2002. We have since increased the strength of the force to a historical high of more than 12,200. As the Deputy knows, the Government has approved the Minister's proposal to increase the strength of the Garda Síochána to 14,000 members on a phased basis in line with the commitment in this regard in An Agreed Programme for Government. On behalf of the Minister, I assure the House again that the additional gardaí will not be put on administrative duties and will deal directly with front line, operational, high-visibility policing. In each of the next three years, there will be an intake of almost 1,100 new recruits. The advertisement campaign for this first tranche of 1,100 recruits was launched on Thursday, 25 November 2004. The 496 positions to which the Deputy referred have not yet been civilianised for the reasons I have outlined.
I am glad to have this honest response from the Minister of State. We hear continuously about the shortage of gardaí on patrol. We also hear repeated promises from the Minister for Justice, Equality and Reform, Deputy McDowell, regarding his commitment to provide extra gardaí. However, we have 496 gardaí sitting behind desks despite the promise made by this Government more than four years ago that they would be replaced by civilian staff and freed up for patrol duties. Not one of those gardaí is on the street. What explanation or excuse has the Government for treating the public and the Garda Síochána so disgracefully in this regard?
More than four years ago, the Government accepted a report in which it was laid down and agreed that the concept behind the introduction of civilianisation was to allow for the relevant jobs to be done at a more economic cost and to free up gardaí for work more suited to their training and development while simultaneously increasing the operational capacity of the force. In the interim, resources have been wasted. A person can be trained to work behind a desk in a matter of weeks but it takes two years to train a garda.
It is an absolute indictment of the Government that four years after that decision was trumpeted — before an election, of course — not a single one of those desk jobs has been filled by a civilian.
Will the Government give a commitment which would allow those gardaí onto the streets now? I do not want to hear waffle about having gardaí on the streets in 2009. I am sick of hearing that from the Minister of State. I want gardaí on the streets by Christmas. It can be done if this decision is implemented. There are 500 extra gardaí waiting to go out on the streets if the Government and the Minister do as they committed to under the civilianisation programme.
All Departments, including the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, are bound by the Government decision of 3 December 2002 to place a cap on civil and public service numbers. Progress on this issue must take place within that framework.
It is not true to insinuate that little progress has been made in this area. In 2001, the Government approved an extensive programme of civilianisation which will be introduced on a phased basis over a number of years. For example, the transfer of the finance function from Garda district clerks to civilians and the subsequent upgrading of the new civilian role to staff officer are now almost complete following an internal competition. A total of 112 clerical officers throughout the Garda Síochána have been promoted to district finance officers at staff officer level. This has freed up Garda resources allowing gardaí to concentrate on policing matters. Some progress has been made on civilianisation. Nevertheless, the Government decision to cap civil and public service numbers had an effect on progress in this area in recent years.
I am not insinuating that little progress has been made. I am stating absolutely baldly that no progress has been made. With 500 gardaí sitting behind desks and waiting to go out and do their job, has the Government any intention — now, next week, next month or next year — of carrying out the commitment it gave four years ago that those gardaí would be on operational duty on the streets?
The Department is reviewing the position with the Department of Finance and Garda management as to how to proceed further with Garda civilianisation in connection with the 496 posts identified by the Deputy. Other transfers of civilian staff of the Department to the Garda Síochána are provided for in the Garda Síochána Bill currently before Seanad Éireann. The transfer of the finance function has been completed.
In fairness to Deputy O'Keeffe, I suggested that he was insinuating that little progress has been made but if he is saying it baldly and flatly I am happy to accept that. The next phase of the civilianisation programme, relating to the posts identified by the Deputy, will have to be rolled out within the confines of the Government decision of December 2002, which places an overall cap on numbers across the civil and public service.
The Government is handcuffing itself.
That cap is central to our budgetary success in recent times.
Let me hear no more bleating about shortage of gardaí. They are waiting to go on the streets.
There are plenty of extra workers in the health service who could switch to the Garda.
