I propose to take Questions Nos. 442 to 446, inclusive, together.
The Private Security Authority (PSA) is the statutory body with responsibility for licensing and regulating the private security industry in Ireland. Last month, I launched the 2026–2028 Strategic Plan of the Private Security Authority, which sets out the PSA’s goals for the next three years.
Annual funding for the PSA is determined as part of the Estimates process for the Justice sector. As part of the overall governance arrangements between the PSA and my Department, annual performance delivery targets are agreed, monitored and appraised between the parties. I am advised by the PSA that its Board will review and monitor progress on the Strategic Plan 2026-2028 at Board meetings, and the PSA will, in its Annual Reports, publish progress each year against the goals set out in the Strategic Plan.
Over the term of the Plan, I am further advised the PSA will promote professional standards and practice improvement by working in partnership with the industry to continuously enhance professional competence, standards, and compliance. This will include identifying the scope for enhancement in both assessing licence holder suitability and undertaking probity checks and in the auditing assessment and certification process. The PSA will work to update standards where updates are needed and will review standard development processes to make them more efficient.
The PSA also aims to raise public awareness by developing a new communications strategy, and through initiatives such as increasing participation in multi-agency inspections. The success of these strategies will be measured by the implementation of annual business plans with performance targets. The PSA will continue to utilise social media platforms, regular newsletters, and the PSA website to communicate relevant updates and information to the public and to provide a point of contact for enquiries.
Over the timeframe of this plan, officials in my Department will work closely with the PSA in the introduction of new ICT systems to transform the way the PSA licences, regulates, and produces and uses management information. In tandem with the introduction of the new technology, the PSA plans to systematically identify and deploy solutions to enhance its administrative efficiency through process redesign, ICT enablement and effective system integration. Under the Strategic Plan 2026-2028, the PSA has also committed to examine ICT and AI solutions to better target inspections, streamline inspection processes, and to improve both inspection capacity and reporting.
