Garda Resources

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 June 2020

Wednesday, 3 June 2020

Ceisteanna (387)

Catherine Connolly

Ceist:

387. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the budget allocation for each of the Garda specialist units in 2019 and 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9235/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

The Deputy will be aware that in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 as amended, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for managing and controlling the administration and business of An Garda Síochána.

I have requested information from An Garda Síochána on the matter requested by the Deputy and will write directly to the Deputy when it is received.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51

I refer to Parliamentary Question Number 387 which was for answer on 3 June 2020 where you requested the budget allocation for each of the Garda specialist units in 2019 and 2020.

As you may recall the information you requested could not be obtained in the time available and my predecessor, then Minister Flanagan, undertook to contact you again when the information was to hand.

The requested information has now been provided by An Garda Síochána and accordingly, please note the following;

The Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for the management of An Garda Síochána and the allocation of these resources. As Minister, I have no responsibility for these matters. I understand however that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities, to ensure their optimum use.

The resources provided to An Garda Síochána have reached unprecedented levels, with an allocation for 2020 of €1.88 billion. Under Section 43 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 the Garda Commissioner is the Accounting Officer of An Garda Síochána and is responsible for the Garda budget.

I am advised that the table in the attached appendix which has been provided to me by the Garda authorities sets out the annual cost of the Specialist Units in the Serious Crime Branch from 2019 up to and including 31 July 2020.

The table excludes the cost of the Criminal Asset Bureau as this Specialist Unit is accounted for in the Justice Vote.

I trust this information is of assistance.

Appendix

Specialist Units in the Organised and Serious Crime Branch	2019	1 Jan 2020 to 31 July 2020
Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau	13,168,867	7,925,627
Immigration Bureau	11,281,111	6,695,735
Criminal Investigation Bureau	8,354,470	5,331,921
Operation Support Services	8,079,529	4,796,826
Technical Bureau	8,736,310	3,474,826
Protective Services Bureau	5,978,919	3,890,392
Economic Crime Bureau	5,978,216	3,789,498
Cyber Crime Bureau	2,492,253	1,458,975