Progress reports on implementation of Garda Inspectorate recommendations published The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr Brian Lenihan TD, today announced that he has asked the Garda Inspectorate to examine the allocation of Garda resources and also to provide advice on the development of a Garda Charter as proposed in the Programme for Government. Progress reports on the implementation of the recommendations of the Garda Inspectorate in their previous three reports have also been published today.

Resource Allocation Study
The Minister has requested the Garda Inspectorate to examine and report to him on how the allocation of Garda resources can be improved. Announcing the new study, Minister Lenihan said:

“An Garda Síochána now has more resources – people, equipment, transport and finance – than ever before in its history. This significant investment of public funds must be used in the most efficient and effective manner to protect public safety and combat criminal activity. The Garda Inspectorate can play an important role in examining resource allocation, bringing its knowledge and experience, and international best practice, to assist An Garda Síochána in improving the way it operates.

The Study’s Terms of Reference, set by the Minister for the Garda Inspectorate, are attached.

Development of Garda Charter
The Minister has also asked the Inspectorate to advise him on the development and implementation of the Garda Charter. Commenting, the Minister said:

“Garda resources must be targeted where they can have most effect and can respond rapidly and satisfactorily to the needs of communities in all parts of the country. I look forward to receiving the Inspectorate’s report and recommendations on this issue and their advice on how best a Garda Charter can be introduced to help improve customer service and responsiveness.”

The Study’s Terms of Reference, set by the Minister for the Garda Inspectorate, are attached.

Recommendations implementation Progress Reports
Progress reports on the implementation of the recommendations of the Garda Inspectorate in their previous three reports have also been published today.

The first three reports of the Garda Inspectorate were as follows:

  • Report on the Senior Management Structure
  • Review of Practices and Procedures for Barricade Incidents, and
  • Policing in Ireland, Looking Forward.

The update tables show the current state of progress in implementing the recommendations of these reports. Over one third of the recommendations are already implemented and by the end of the third quarter of this year over 80% will be implemented.

Speaking about the recommendation implementation reports, Minister Lenihan said:

“I am satisfied that significant progress is being made in implementation of the Garda Inspectorates Recommendations and I congratulate the Garda Commissioner and the Chief Inspector on the progress made to date.”

The Progress Reports are available on the websites of the Garda Inspectorate, www.gsinsp.ie, and An Garda Síochána, www.garda.ie.

3 April 2008

Note for Editors

The terms of reference proposed for the new study are as follows:

Allocating Garda resources and the development and implementation of the Garda Charter

a. Allocating resources
To examine and report on how the allocation of Garda resources can be improved. This will include

  • an examination of the current system of managing the availability of resources within An Garda Síochána for front line operational duties;
  • an analysis of the demand for policing services (emergency and non-emergency) and its distribution over time (through the day, week, and year). The geographical spread of such demand and the differing requirements in urban and rural locations should be examined;
  • an examination of the current resource allocation system for members of An Garda Síochána, including rostering and overtime, to see how well resources are made available to match demand for services and other operational requirements;
  • an examination of potential alternative resource allocation systems to see whether there can be improvements in the match between availability of resources and the workload;
  • an examination of the consequences for resource allocation of issues such as special leave, term time working and medically restricted duties.

b. Developing and implementing the Garda Charter
To advise on the development and implementation of the Garda Charter proposed in the Programme for Government which will set out targeted response times and levels of service which the public can expect including frequency of high visibility patrols in urban and rural communities.

To examine data currently available and to make recommendations on improving data availability on response times and the levels of service (including frequency of high visibility patrols) provided by An Garda Síochána.

To consider any similar service charters or relevant systems operating in other police services and to report on how the experience in those services can be used in developing and implementing a system in Ireland.

To recommend on how a system can be implemented incrementally having regard to the availability of resources and the systems for the deployment of such resources.