Only 144 gardaí have been released from administrative duties since 2005 under the civilianisation programme though almost 1,000 civilians have been employed in the force, according to a report released by the Comptroller and Auditor General today.
The report by John Buckley said the ratio of civilians to gardaí in An Garda Siochána is low by international standards; one to seven compared to the UK the ratio of one to three and a ratio of one to four in Sweden and Australia.
Some 900 civilian posts were approved by Government in three decisions since 2005 with the expressed intention of releasing gardai from administrative duties, the report said. For example, in December 2006, the Government approved the creation of 300 clerical officer posts in the staff and said at least the same number of gardaí would be immediately re-assigned to outdoor operational duties. Only 74 gardaí were released as part of that decision.
While the number of civilian staff working in the force had risen from 1,166 at the end of 2005 to 2,135 by the end of May 2009, a total of only 144 garda personnel were released from administrative duties to operational duties as a result.
Mr Buckley said the number of gardaí actually released was considerably less than had been planned.
"There needs to be a greater emphasis on the establishment of targets for police replacement with civilians in order to allow for effective verification of the extent of replacement," he said.
