Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 April 2017
50. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí with foreign language skills in each Garda division; and the resources available to and approach taken by An Garda Síochána to deal with language barriers in ethnically diverse Garda districts. [18947/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for carrying on and managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána.
I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Commissioner and I will write to the Deputy on receipt of same.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A:
I refer to your Parliamentary Question No. 50 for answer on 13 April 2017, in which you requested "To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Gardaí with foreign language skills in each Garda division; and the resources available to and approach taken by An Garda Síochána to deal with language barriers in ethnically diverse Garda districts."
At the time the then Minister responded that she would request the specific information sought by you from the Garda Commissioner and she would write to you on receipt of same.
As you will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for carrying on, managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána.
I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that the information sought in relation to the number of Gardaí with foreign language skills in each Garda division is not readily available and would take a disproportionate amount of time and resources to collate.
I am advised that in circumstances where language difficulties arise, An Garda Síochána engages the services of professional, interpretation and translation services.
I am further informed that the Garda Bureau of Community Diversity and Integration (GBCDI) has national responsibility for liaison with ethnically diverse communities and one of its central roles is to liaise with representatives of minority groups.
Garda Ethnic Liaison Officers (ELO) are appointed in each Garda Division. The role of the Ethnic Liaison Officer is to liaise and establish communication links with representatives of the various minority communities within their respective Divisions. The Ethnic Liaison Officers also inform and assure these communities of the Garda services available to all communities, within the community. The list of Ethnic Liaison Officers is available on the Garda website at www.garda.ie.
I hope this information is of assistance to you.
