Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
877. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of civilian members of staff An Garda Síochána has taken on each year for the past five years; the number of civilian members it is possible to train in a given year; and the estimated cost for training and recruiting that number of civilian members of staff. [33751/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who has responsibility to carry on and manage and control generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána, including by arranging for the recruitment, training and appointment of its members and civilian staff.
I have requested the specific information sought by the Deputy from the Garda Commissioner and I will write to him on receipt of same.
For the information of the Deputy I have set out below in tabular form from year-end the number of civilian staff for 2010 to 2017. I am informed by the Commissioner that there were 2,192 civilians undertaking administrative, technical and other duties within An Garda Síochána as of 31 December 2017. I am encouraged that the number of civilians working in An Garda Síochána continues to increase with the end of year numbers for 2017 showing more civilians working in the organisation than in each of the previous seven years. In addition, the most recent figure provided to me by the Commissioner indicates that, as at 31 May 2018 approximately 2,300 civilians were employed in An Garda Siochána.
The Deputy will be aware that as part of the Five Year Reform and High-level Workforce Plan for An Garda Síochána, the Government has agreed an overall vision for a Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021 to include 15,000 Garda members, 2,000 Garda Reserve members and 4,000 civilians. The projected 4,000 civilians represents a medium-term target of 20% of the Garda full-time workforce comprised of civilians. This target will be achieved through a twin-track approach of firstly, a “civilian by default” policy to be adopted in relation to the filling of all new posts other than operational policing posts and for non-operational policing posts that become vacant and, secondly, the redeployment of Gardaí to policing roles where their skills can be used to best effect with the backfilling of these roles by suitably qualified civilians where necessary. The Garda Inspectorate identified some 1,500 posts held by Gardaí that could be examined for suitability for civilian staff.
Progress is being made in relation to civilianisation. Since the beginning of 2017 approximately 290 new civilian posts have been sanctioned by the Policing Authority with the consent of my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The bulk were to address critical skills gaps and capacity issues with a proportion sanctioned to make a start on the redeployment of Gardaí to policing duties. Of particular significance is that a number of civilians have been appointed to newly created senior leadership posts at Executive Director level to take responsibility for Strategy & Transformation and Legal & Compliance.
In addition, approximately 110 Gardai have been redeployed to operational policing duties with some of the roles vacated by Gardai now being undertaken by civilians.
Civilianisation is a key element of the reform programme that is being pursued by An Garda Síochána. It will not be done overnight but progress on achieving the target of 20% implementation must continue and, indeed, must move at a greater pace.
|
Year End |
Civilian Strength |
Percentage Civilian |
|
2010 |
2099 |
13% |
|
2011 |
2012 |
13% |
|
2012 |
1970 |
13% |
|
2013 |
2071 |
14% |
|
2014 |
2055 |
14% |
|
2015 |
2007 |
14% |
|
2016 |
1998 |
13% |
|
2017 |
2192 |
14% |
