Irish Daily Mirror

GARDA CHIEFS’ FURY AT GOVERNMENT ON PROMOTIONS DELAY

Hundreds of officers in limbo

- BY NIALL O’CONNOR

GARDA top brass are angry with Government officials over a delay in urgentlyne­eded promotions.

Sources revealed Commission­er Drew Harris and his team have been desperate to move hundreds of officers up the ranks.

And they have accused the Department­s of Justice and Public Expenditur­e of dragging their heels.

The delay has hit the appointmen­t of 425 gardai as sergeants and had the knock-on effect of delaying the movement of 209 sergeants to the rank of inspector.

Only 170 officers were promoted with the remainder left in limbo.

A source said: “This caused major problems because there are gardai now without adequate supervisio­n and department­s and units without full leadership.

“The commission­er has been begging department officials but they have not signed off on it – the commitment from them is simply not there and they don’t understand the urgency.”

However, a statement from the Department of Justice appears to

YESTERDAY

offer hope of a resolution. A spokesman said: “An Garda Siochana recently issued promotion lists for the ranks of sergeant and inspector and 170 have been promoted so far to the rank of sergeant.

“An Garda Siochana sought an increase in Employment Control Framework which the had the Department of Public Expenditur­e and Reform had to consider and respond to.

“That response was received last Friday and at present the promotion warrants are being prepared for submission to the commission­er to promote personnel in line with that authorisat­ion.”

A Department of Public Expenditur­e and Reform spokeswoma­n added: “The Expenditur­e Report for 2019 notes there will be funding next year for 191 additional Garda supervisor­s. “The vote section has sanctioned the associated increases in the ranks for sergeants and inspectors.”

The commission­er has been begging officials but they have not signed off on it

IRISH MIRROR SOURCE

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 ??  ?? CONCERN Drew Harris
CONCERN Drew Harris

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