Private Security Authority

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 June 2019

Wednesday, 26 June 2019

Ceisteanna (113, 114, 115)

Anne Rabbitte

Ceist:

113. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the structures in place to monitor the provision of licences by the Private Security Authority to those working as a door supervisor (licensed premises) or door supervisor (event security); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27109/19]

Anne Rabbitte

Ceist:

114. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if there are different criteria for those licensed by the Private Security Authority as a door supervisor (licensed premises) or door supervisor (event security) for events held for persons aged under 18 years of age; if such supervisors are required to be Garda vetted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27110/19]

Anne Rabbitte

Ceist:

115. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of door supervisor (licensed premises) licences issued by county in each of the years 2014 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; the number of door supervisor (licensed premises) licences issued by which applicants completed a requirement (details supplied) or equivalent in each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27111/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

I propose to take Questions Nos. 113 to 115, inclusive, together.

The Private Security Authority (PSA), established under the Private Security Services Act 2004, as amended, is the regulatory body with responsibility for regulating and licensing the private security industry in the State.

The PSA is an independent body under the aegis of my Department. I have no involvement in the day-to-day operations of the Authority. My Department has an annual governance oversight agreement with the Authority which, inter alia, sets out key objectives and targets to be achieved on an annual basis.

The Private Security Services Act 2004 (as amended) sets out the security services licensable by the Authority. The Authority licences both contractors and employees in the security industry and licensing is being introduced on a phased basis to the security industry. One of the security services prescribed in the legislation is that of door supervisor. The door supervisor sector is licensable under a number of sub-categories, one of which is ‘Licensed Premises’.

Licensing of contractors in the Door Supervisor (Licensed Premises) sector commenced on 19 December 2005 and in the Door Supervisor (Event Security) sector on 1 November 2014. Employee licensing for the Door Supervisor (Licensed Premises) sector commenced on 1 September 2006. Licensing of employees in the Door Supervisor (Event Security) sector has not yet commenced. All employees seeking a licence in the Door Supervisor (Licensed Premises) sector must obtain the prescribed qualification Guarding Skills QQI Level 4 Minor Award or Door Security Procedures QQI Level 4 Minor Award or an equivalent qualification.

I can inform the Deputy that contractors in these sectors must adhere to the PSA Licensing Requirements Document – PSA 28:2013 Door Supervision and Security Guarding and PSA Licensing Requirements Document – PSA 39:2014 Event Security respectively. As part of the licensing regime contractors are audited annually to these Requirements Documents by an auditing body approved by the PSA. Part of such audits is verifying that contractors have the necessary protocols and supervisory checks for their individual operatives.

The Private Security Authority have 5 regional Inspectors. These Inspectors, amongst other inspection duties, carry out unannounced checks on licensed premises throughout the country to ensure that individuals in the Door Supervisor (licensed premises) are properly licensed. The Inspectors also undertake inspections of contractors to ensure compliance with the relevant Requirements Documents.

All new applicants for contractor and employee licences are vetted by the National Vetting Bureau in relation to their suitability to hold a PSA licence and existing licence holders are re-vetted periodically.

I am advised that work on the licensing of employees in the Door Supervisor (Event Security) sector is underway. A public consultation on the licensing requirements which should apply to the sector was undertaken in August 2018. The Authority expect to announce further details on the licensing of the sector in the coming months.

The Deputy may also wish to note that the licensing decisions made by the Authority are subject to appeal by the Private Security Appeal Board under Section 40 of the Private Security Services Act, 2004 (as amended).

The attached table shows a breakdown of Door Supervisor (Licensed Premises) licences granted by county and by year.

Door Supervisor (Licensed Premises) licences granted by county and by year

County	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019 (up to 21/06/2019)
Carlow	131	126	132	128	166	98
Cavan	125	142	140	150	175	89
Clare	202	201	212	227	263	153
Cork	1206	1260	1250	1237	1498	777
Donegal	258	263	270	291	343	121
Dublin	3922	3735	3551	3759	4619	3788
Galway	748	750	699	742	909	339
Kerry	289	340	364	373	443	200
Kildare	426	435	453	506	603	459
Kilkenny	145	139	127	129	163	90
Laois	194	218	221	229	300	167
Leitrim	73	74	68	87	106	37
Limerick	428	457	493	506	627	410
Longford	110	107	132	166	203	100
Louth	307	300	320	359	463	285
Mayo	312	311	322	285	334	145
Meath	333	340	354	368	430	317
Monaghan	158	162	152	135	155	64
Offaly	186	179	178	175	218	136
Roscommon	117	126	125	133	166	91
Sligo	143	146	154	158	197	84
Tipperary	267	287	275	296	355	198
Waterford	227	265	298	338	431	195
Westmeath	161	165	180	234	288	162
Wexford	234	261	290	328	395	168
Wicklow	225	239	232	229	287	209
Northern Ireland	61	59	65	80	88	44
GB (excl. NI)	4	2	5	5	4	4
Other	0	0	0	0	2	2
Totals	10992	11089	11062	11653	14231	8932