Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 December 2021
132. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice if funding of her Department is sufficient for the years 2021 to 2022 to meet all operational activities with particular reference to the deployment of gardaí to areas experiencing high levels of criminal activity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60870/21]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware the Garda Commissioner has responsibility for the general administration of An Garda Síochána under the Garda Síochána Act 2005. This responsibility includes the allocation of funding in support of all activities, operations and deployment of personnel.
The Deputy may be aware that the budget provided by Government to the Garda Commissioner continues to increase to unprecedented levels. Budget 2022 provides over €2 billion in funding to An Garda Síochána. Since 2016 the budget for An Garda Síochána has increased by approximately €500m, or 33%. This has enabled 1,400 extra Gardaí to be deployed, as well as continued investment in modern equipment. In addition, we have freed up 800 Gardaí for front line policing work through the recruitment of Garda staff.
As the Deputy may be aware, Covid-19 restrictions on the Garda Training College in Templemore constrained recruitment and training for periods over the last 18 months. However, I am glad to confirm that 385 Gardaí will be recruited this year and the funding provided for next year fully supports the sustained recruitment of Garda members and staff.
In particular, the funding provided includes provision for the recruitment of 800 new Garda recruits and 400 Garda staff in 2022 - an additional 1,200 personnel. The number of new recruits and new Garda staff envisaged means that we are on track to meet the Government’s target of 15,000 sworn members of An Garda Síochána and 4,000 Garda staff as we approach the centenary of the establishment of An Garda Síochána.
This increase in the number of Garda members and staff will deliver significant growth in operational policing hours nationwide and improved services to the public generally. Redeployment of Gardaí from administrative and support roles will also continue next year, thus allowing highly trained Gardaí to focus on frontline policing duties. The organisation's capacity will be further strengthened by the recruitment of additional Garda staff, including specialist roles to support the investigation of crime and enhance the management of the organisation .
Budget 2022 provides an additional €10.5 million for Garda operational expenditure – including provision for new mobile devices, equipment for a range of Garda specialist units and on-going training in relation to priority areas such as tackling sexual, domestic and gender-based violence. It also includes a specific once–off allocation of €1.5 million to mark the centenary of An Garda Síochána in 2022.
Budget 2022 also includes provision for a capital budget of €147 million for An Garda Síochána’s ICT and Building Programme and ongoing investment in the organisation’s transport fleet. An Garda Síochána, recognising the need to be visible and accessible in communities but also conscious of taking proactive actions to reduce their carbon footprint, will purchase an additional 100 mountain bikes and increased numbers of electric vehicles as part of an overall fleet management strategy.
