Pauline Tully
Question:
486. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 343 of 7 February 2024, if she has received the necessary information from the Garda authorities in order to have this PQ answered. [10269/24]
View answer
I have contacted the Garda authorities for the information requested by the Deputy. Regrettably, this information was not available in time and I will write to the Deputy directly when it is to hand.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51.
I refer to Parliamentary Questions 343 of 7 February 2024 and 486 of 5 March 2024 where you sought: “The number of WTE civilian forensic photographers employed by An Garda Síochána in 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024.”
As you will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including for the recruitment, training and allocation of Garda members and staff to a given unit. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.
To be of assistance, I have contacted the Garda authorities who have informed me that fewer than 10 WTE civilian forensic photographers were employed by An Garda Síochána during the years requested.
I am advised by Garda authorities that it is not the policy of An Garda Síochána to further report on numbers that are fewer than 10. In cases where the requested figures are less than ten, the personnel referenced may be identifiable to the general public, thus posing a potential risk to their safety. Furthermore, An Garda Síochána, along with fellow Government Departments and public bodies, is bound by existing Data Protection legislation; the release of figures less than ten has the potential to compromise the protection and privacy of individuals employed by An Garda Síochána and moreover constitute a breach of this legislation and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
I trust this information is of assistance.
