Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 July 2018
238. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if recent media reports that the overtime budget for An Garda Síochána for the Dublin region has been reduced by 38% are correct; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29120/18]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that the allocation and management of Garda resources, including the budget for Garda overtime, is the responsibility of the Garda Commissioner having regard to his operational needs and in light of his position as accounting officer for the Garda Vote.
The overall Garda budget is approximately €1.65 billion for 2018. Included in this unprecedented level of funding, almost €100 million has been made available to An Garda Síochána for overtime in 2018.
It is a matter for Garda management to distribute all those resources, including the overtime budget, in accordance with operational need and in order to continue to respond appropriately to organised and other serious crime.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) was allocated its annual budget from the overall Garda Vote at the beginning of 2018 and that there has been no reduction in the allocation to DMR in relation to overtime since that point. I am further informed that the distribution of resources made by the Garda authorities for overtime in DMR is some €41 million for 2018.
I am satisfied that Garda management is acutely aware of the need to utilise the resources being made available to them in the most efficient and effective manner to ensure high visibility policing in our communities.
It is also important to note that overtime cannot be considered in isolation from the other resources available to An Garda Síochána. For example 2018 will see recruitment of a further 800 Garda recruits, while 800 recruits will also graduate from Templemore during the year. Provision has also been made for significant civilian recruitment (2,000 additional civilians by 2021) and for a doubling of the Reserve to 2,000 by 2021. These measures are providing additional policing hours throughout the country, both in terms of the increase in new Gardaí and the redeployment of significant numbers of Gardaí to frontline policing duties consequential on the increased civilianisation of the organisation. This unprecedented level of investment in An Garda Síochána, including in recruitment, is therefore expected, over a period of time, to have a positive impact on the overtime budget.
This underlines this Government’s commitment to reform of An Garda Síochána that will enhance the operation of policing in Ireland in ways that are positive for both members of the public and An Garda Síochána.
