As the Deputy is aware, the Private Security Authority (PSA), an independent body under the aegis of my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for licensing and regulating the private security industry in Ireland. The PSA regulates both contractors and employees across a range of sectors in the security industry.
I am informed by the PSA that at the end of March 2023 there were 1,443 contractors and 32,675 employees licensed to provide security services. Some contractors and employees hold licences in more than one sector and the number of sectoral licences in circulation is 1,756 for contractors and 40,576 for employees.