The Government is to set up a steering group to develop and implement the proposed programme for change in the Garda Siochana. It has been asked to report its initial proposals to the Government within six months.
The recent report of the Steering Group on the Efficiency and Effectiveness of the Force recommended change in a range of areas including training, financial management, policing practices, promotion and a "bottom-up review".
This review would amount to a detailed examination of the force and reach conclusions on the optimum number, structure and deployment of gardai "and the appropriate mix" between gardai and civilians.
The body to oversee the efficiency and effectiveness report has been asked to develop the overall plan and to begin immediately the "bottom-up review". It will also work on a means to address the "cross-organisational issues" identified in the steering group report.
Former Secretary of the Department of Enterprise and Employment Mr Kevin Bonner will chair the group which also includes the Garda Commissioner, Mr Pat Byrne; the secretary general at the Department of Justice, Mr Tim Dalton; a former member of the Labour Court, Mr Declan Brennan; Ms Joan Carmichael of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions; and Mr Eamon Leahy SC. Other representatives, from the Garda associations and the Department of the Taoiseach, will be announced in the new year.