Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
851. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to increase the civilian staff numbers in the Garda technical bureau; the types of posts civilians may fill in this section; his further plans to increase the number of qualified policing staff in the section; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33637/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Garda Inspectorate Report entitled “Changing Policing in Ireland - Delivering a Visible, Accessible and Responsive Service” was published on 9 December 2015. The report recommended that the forensic functions of the Garda Technical Bureau be divested to Forensic Science Ireland and this recommendation was adopted by Government.
A plan to merge the forensic functions of the Garda Technical Bureau and Forensic Science Ireland has been drawn up by a Working Group chaired by my Department. Discussions are underway to implement this plan and it is expected that this merger process will commence in 2018. In the interim technical vacancies within the Garda Technical Bureau will be filled by civilians seconded from Forensic Science Ireland.
In addition, the Director General of Forensic Science Ireland is completing a work force plan to ensure that this merged organisation will have the right skills and resources to meet ongoing forensic service requirements. A recruitment campaign is currently underway to recruit scientists into Forensic Science Ireland.
The scenes of crime function, where Garda members attend to locations where crimes have been committed, will remain within An Garda Síochána and it is a matter for the Garda Commissioner to decide on the resources required to meet this operational requirement.
