Sinn Féin spokesperson on Justice, Pa Daly TD, has called for the government to reveal its plans around non-core Garda duties. With nearly six years having elapsed since the publication of the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing, significant Garda time is still spent on non-core duties.

Teachta Daly said:

“The available Garda numbers, according to the organisation’s own figures, currently stand at 13,866, once leave and suspensions are taken into account. The raw number of Gardai has actually decreased since Fine Gael took office in 2011, as the population has increased during that time.

“This is not enough to maintain current service levels, and when resignations and retirements are thrown into the mix, it makes for an unsustainable situation.

“One way of freeing up Garda time, reducing the workload and increasing job satisfaction is the removal of non-core duties from rank and file members.

“Non-core duties include functions such as court accompaniment, court security and other duties which can and should be done by non-sworn members. The power of Gardaí to prosecute cases makes it one of the most time consuming duties, as well as raising issues around independence and accountability.

“The report of the Commission on the Future of Policing made a number of recommendations related to non-core duties, all of which would have streamlined the work of being a Garda and would have helped make things more efficient.

“I am calling on the Minister to outline what steps are being taken on non-core duties, and nearly six years on from the report, reveal what measures will not be implemented and why.

“At a time when the recruitment and retention of members is more difficult than ever, we need to see a new direction within the Justice portfolio. Sinn Féin would re-examine the report of the Commission and implement its recommendations to free up Garda time and improve accountability and public safety.”