Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 April 2017
86. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the cost of Garda overtime and the Garda overtime hours claimed for the years 2012 to 2016, inclusive; and the checks in place to ensure gardaí have completed overtime claimed. [18437/17]
View answerThe Deputy will appreciate decisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda resources including overtime are a matter for the Garda Commissioner, and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter.
I have asked the Garda Commissioner for the specific information requested and when it is to hand I will inform the Deputy accordingly.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A
The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the allocation of Garda resources and I, as Minister, have no direct role in these matters.
The Garda authorities, however, advise me that Garda Overtime expenditure (excluding civilian overtime costs) in the years 2012 to 2016 is set out in the table below. The associated overtime hours for each of the years in question are also provided.
|
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
|
|
Garda Overtime Expenditure |
€41,553,684 |
€43,326,833 |
€37,254,315 |
€55,783,901 |
€90,036,899 |
|
Garda Overtime Hours |
1,290,298 |
1,362,413 |
1,141,052 |
1,708,651 |
2,761,798 |
I understand that overtime is paid to members of An Garda Síochána, up to and including Inspector rank, for additional hours worked during a four week pay roster period. Members complete an overtime claim form for each roster period which is checked and approved locally by their immediate supervisor and then the District Superintendent. Claim forms are checked by the local District Finance Officer to ensure compliance with the Garda Finance Code and details are entered into the Garda electronic payment system which has built in checks and parameters that prevent duplicate and excess claims being paid. An examination of overtime expenditure is included in all regular Divisional audits conducted by the Garda Internal Audit Section.
It should be noted that overtime expenditure in 2015 and 2016 included expenditure relating to:
- the continuation of Operation Thor;- the commencement of specific operations to combat organised crime;- security operations at Dublin Port and Rosslare Europort;- border security operations; and- various non-recurring activities, including the provision of armed support in the Dublin North Inner City and the establishment of the Dublin Armed Support Unit, and costs arising from the 1916 Centenary celebrations and State visits of Vice-President Biden and Prince Charles.
In June 2016 an additional €55 million was made available to An Garda Síochána by the Government to allow for concentrated policing targeting gang related crime, the continued intensive and strategic targeting of burglaries and related crime, through ongoing support for Operation Thor and the continued support for measures against terrorism.
