Violet-Anne Wynne
Question:72. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Justice her views on the increasing civilianisation of Garda staffing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34028/23]
View answerTuesday, 11 July 2023
Questions (72)
Written answers
The Government is committed to increasing Garda staff to 4,000.
The purpose of this policy is, in part, to allow for the redeployment of highly skilled professional Gardaí from administrative to front-line policing roles. As far as possible, Garda members should be assigned to posts requiring police powers or experience. Indeed since 2015, almost 900 Garda members have been freed up from back office duties to front line policing because of civilianisation.
Garda staff are an integral part of our police service and they are involved in the provision of a wide range of administrative, professional and technical services. As well as providing clerical support and financial management functions in Garda stations and offices across the country, civilian staff carry out a range of specialised support roles.
Accounting for about 18% of the overall Garda workforce, there are currently 3,127 full-time Garda staff undertaking administrative and technical duties within An Garda Síochána an increase of more than 50% since 2015.
Budget 2023 provides for over 400 Garda staff and up to 1,000 new Garda trainees to be recruited this year. These extra staff will allow for a further freeing up of Gardaí for frontline duties, and enhance the capacity of the organisation through the recruitment of staff to specialist and other positions to support the investigation of crime and the management and development of the organisation.
The importance of Garda staff as a key part of An Garda Síochána was fully recognised by the Commission on the Future of Policing. The continued implementation of the Commission’s recommendations is transforming how policing services are delivered in Ireland and will deliver a professional, modern and effective police service that is well-managed, efficient and cost effective.
Most importantly, local front-line policing will be placed at the core of our police service, ensuring that Gardaí are more visible in communities. In delivering on this, civilianisation is one of the priority projects being progressed by An Garda Síochána in line with targets set out under ‘A Policing Service for the Future’.
Question No. 73 answered with Question No. 68.