As the Deputy will appreciate, the allocation of resources within An Garda Síochána is a matter for the Garda Commissioner and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter.
I am advised by the Garda Authorities that the overtime cost for Garda rank in the Sligo/Leitrim Garda Division for 2015 and for January-August 2016 is as follows:
Garda Overtime (Garda rank)
Year
|
Total
|
2015
|
€392,700
|
2016 (January - August)
|
€226,200
|
The high overtime cost for the Garda rank in 2011 due to additional resources being provided for specific policing operations at that time. The operations in question were Operation Anvil, the visit of Queen Elizabeth II and the visit of President Obama.
I am advised that, if these operations are excluded, the amount spent on Garda rank overtime in the Sligo/Leitrim Division in 2011 is comparable to the other years.