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Garda Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 July 2020

Thursday, 30 July 2020

Ceisteanna (1037, 1038)

Alan Kelly

Ceist:

1037. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí placed on sick leave due to stress or mental illness in each of the years 2015 to 2019 and to date in 2020; the proportion the number represented of the number of gardaí in each year, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19860/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Alan Kelly

Ceist:

1038. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí who died by suicide while still in the employment of the State in each of the years 2015 to 2019 and to date in 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19861/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1037 and 1038 together.

As the Deputy is aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes responsibility for personnel and human resources matters.  I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that there is a variety of supports in place for members to assist them in dealing with stressful and difficult situations that they may encounter in the workplace.

The Garda Employee Assistance Service is available to members of An Garda Síochána and supports them in managing and resolving personal and work-related difficulties. In addition, there is an independent confidential 24/7 help line and counselling service available to all staff within An Garda Síochána. This service provides all employees with immediate support from accredited counsellors, over the telephone and then, if needed, up to eight face-to-face counselling sessions. These sessions take place in a location within one hour of the employee’s home or place of work. Counselling is provided on a wide range of work and personal issues including critical incidents, trauma, financial issues, relationships, bereavement, stress, conflict, and health. The service is available on a twenty-four hour basis, every day.

I also understand that there is a Peer Supporter Programme operating in each Garda District and that following a traumatic incident a peer supporter who has received appropriate training in helping colleagues cope with the effect of a traumatic incident in the workplace will contact the member(s) who were involved in the incident and offer support. 

Other mental health supports provided by the organisation to assist employees in maintaining their mental health and wellbeing include a chaplaincy service, the Garda Occupational Health Service, and independent mental health specialists. The Garda Occupational Health Service provides a holistic support to members presenting with a broad spectrum of medical problems and circumstances; this would include presentations unrelated to mental health where the holistic support can involve optimising mental health supports and wellbeing.

With regard to the number of Gardaí that died by suicide while still in the employment of the State, as the Deputy will be aware, it is the role of coroners to investigate unnatural or sudden deaths including deaths that may have resulted from suicide, in order to establish the ‘who, when, where and how’ of an unexplained death.  Therefore it would not be appropriate for me to be specific about the number of members of An Garda Síochána who tragically lost their lives through suicide as some cases of unnatural or sudden deaths of Garda members may be awaiting an inquest.  Clearly the family, friends and colleagues of any Garda members who have lost their lives through suicide are deserving of our deepest sympathies.

I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that following any such tragic loss, An Garda Síochána puts in place a comprehensive welfare response to assist and support members who may be affected. The welfare response is delivered by the Garda Employee Assistance Service, Occupational Health Department, Human Resource Management and Local Management. It includes various interventions including Critical Incident Stress Debriefing, Peer Support, Bereavement and Self Care Education.

The Deputy will be aware that 'Connecting for Life' is Ireland’s national strategy to reduce suicide 2015-2020. Connecting for Life sets out a vision of an Ireland where fewer lives are lost through suicide, and where communities and individuals are empowered to improve their mental health and wellbeing. A Cross-Sectoral Group comprising high-level representatives from Government Departments and key State agencies including An Garda Síochána has been established to support the implementation of Connecting for Life.

With regard to the number of Gardaí placed on sick leave due to stress or mental illness, I am informed by the Garda authorities that sickness absences are recorded and reported under the following categories – Ordinary Illness; Occupational Injury/Illness Arising from Duty and Critical Illness.

There is currently no specific sub-category on the Sickness Absence Management System for the recording of absences due to stress but, in some cases, this is recorded under the Mental Health sub-category or in the comments field against another sub-category. It is not possible to show the comments on a sickness absence report. Each instance of sickness absence throughout the required time period would need to be manually accessed on the Sickness Absence Management System to ascertain if the illness relates to stress.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that the table below sets out the number of Gardaí placed on sick leave using the Mental Health illness subcategory.  For the reasons already outlined, there is unfortunately no guarantee that all absences due to stress have been recorded under this sub-category. Likewise, these figures will also include absences that are due to mental health reasons other than those that are stress related.

Year 

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020 (to end June)

Total No. of Garda Members absent due to Mental Health

60

72

73

67

60

30

Total No. of   Gardaí

12,816

12,943

13,551

14,032

14,307

14,678

Proportion

0.47%

0.56%

0.54%

0.48%

0.42%

0.20%

I am further advised that where an employee is certified unfit for work as a result of stress / work related stress and notifies their line manager, the absence triggers an automatic referral to the Chief Medical Officer.

The Divisional Officer should ensure that an investigation into the causes of work related stress is conducted.  This investigation report should be submitted to the Head of the HR Directorate who shall provide the report to the Chief Medical Officer for his consideration in order to inform appropriate clinical advice which will be communicated to the Divisional Officer. 

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