There are three senior vacancies in An Garda Síochána, Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said.

He told the Dáil on Wednesday that the independent Policing Authority would be responsible for senior appointments in the force from next month.

“I assume the authority is readying for that,’’ he said.

He said that, earlier this year, the Government appointed four Garda members to the rank of assistant commissioner, 10 to the rank of chief superintendent and 18 to superintendent.

Mr Kenny said he agreed there should be no undue delay in making the appointments.

Promotions

He said the transfer of responsibility for Garda promotions to the authority signalled the Government’s intent “not to have the hand of politics’’ in any appointments within An Garda Síochána.

Mr Kenny was replying to Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin, who said there were significant vacancies across the force.

He said the act establishing the Policing Authority was passed in December 2015, giving it responsibility for promotions.