Departmental Bodies

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 May 2010

Tuesday, 18 May 2010

Ceisteanna (296, 297)

Leo Varadkar

Ceist:

331 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of persons employed in the Human Rights Commission, the Legal Aid Board, the National Disability Authority, the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner and any other agency under the remit of his Department; the number of persons in terms of whole-time equivalents employed prior to the introduction of the moratorium; the estimated number currently employed; the target number at which point the moratorium will end; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20036/10]

Leo Varadkar

Ceist:

332 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí in terms of whole-time equivalents employed prior to the introduction of the moratorium; the estimated number currently employed; the target point at which point the moratorium will end; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20058/10]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Deputy Dermot Ahern)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 331 and 332 together.

My Department is responsible for staffing its Head Office and a large number of agencies under its remit, including the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner. Separately, the Human Rights Commission, Legal Aid Board, National Disability Authority, An Garda Síochána, Irish Prisons Service, Courts Service and Property Registration Authority recruit their own staff. The whole-time equivalent number of staff employed in these bodies prior to the Moratorium on recruitment and promotion, and currently, is as follows:

Body	Staffing number prior to Moratorium	Current staffing number
Irish Human Rights Commission	16	12
Legal Aid Board	274	258
Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission	94	89
National Disability Authority	41	37
An Garda Síochána (attested members)	14,552	14,523
Garda Civilians	2,109	2,077
Irish Prison Service	3,619	3,538
Courts Service	1,081	1,020
Property Registration Authority	695	615

The question of the lifting of the Moratorium is a matter for the Department of Finance in the first instance.