As the Deputy will be aware, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, which includes the deployment and rostering of staff. As Minister, I have no role in the management of these functions, nor have I had any engagement with the Garda Associations in respect of the matters referred to by the Deputy. My officials have been briefed by Garda management on the new roster proposals and the impacts on the delivery of policing services to the public.
The Deputy may also be aware that the current Garda roster was introduced by the Commissioner to deal with the specific policing requirements that arose during the Covid pandemic. It was always intended by the Commissioner to be a temporary roster, to be replaced in due course by a revised roster.
The Commission on the Future of Policing concluded that existing Garda rostering arrangements should be replaced by tailored rosters that work better for both police and the communities they serve.
I am informed by the Commissioner that a facilitated process (under an independent chair) has been ongoing for some time between Garda management and the Garda Associations to develop a revised roster for Garda members.
On 15 August, the facilitator published his recommendations as providing a basis to move forward on roster reform. All parties were given 8 weeks to consider the proposals.
Further engagement with the Associations in relation to these proposals is a matter for the Garda Commissioner.
