I propose to take Questions Nos. 665 and 671 together.
I can inform the Deputy that my Department does not provide funding or grant aid to the association in question. However, there is provision for funding which is administered by the Garda Commissioner and borne by the Garda Síochána Vote. No funding has been provided to engage the company referred to.
The Garda Associations were established by statute under the Garda Síochána Act, 1924, and are responsible for discharging their representative functions under statute. The funding provided represents a subvention in respect of post, telecommunications and accommodation costs originally provided directly by the State.
In addition to this direct subvention, there is also provision for the full time secondment of the General Secretary and Deputy General Secretary of the association, where these are Garda members, to work with the Association. In these circumstances, their salaries continue to be paid directly from the Garda Vote. Similarly, certain travel and subsistence expenses of association members in connection with associate business are paid directly from the Garda Vote.
The amounts paid over the years from 2011 to 2020, are as follows:
Year
|
Accommodation/
Postage/
Telephone
Subventions
|
Travel &
Subsistence
|
Secondments
|
TOTAL
|
2020
|
€126,070
|
€53,190
|
€68,226
|
€247,486
|
2019
|
€125,838
|
€71,132
|
€99,619
|
€296,589
|
2018
|
€125,132
|
€90,792
|
€116,471
|
€332,395
|
2017
|
€125,376
|
€80,743
|
€82,120
|
€288,239
|
2016
|
€125,158
|
€91,130
|
€51,078
|
€267,366
|
2015
|
€125,074
|
€76,393
|
€105,493
|
€306,960
|
2014
|
€125,049
|
€121,225
|
€103,480
|
€349,754
|
2013
|
€124,292
|
€70,511
|
€103,481
|
€298,284
|
2012
|
€123,830
|
€77,216
|
€103,483
|
€304,529
|
2011
|
€124,443
|
€77,129
|
€103,527
|
€305,099
|