Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have just a couple of brief questions. This is virtually an impossible task given the scale of each of the Votes and projects that we have before us. It gives an indication of the scale of the Department and the job of scrutinising it is not that easy.

I have a couple of quick questions on the Garda Vote. In terms of recruitment, especially civilianisation, I note that the pay Estimate is lower for 2018 than the outturn on pay last year. In the context of the Minister's opening remarks about improved civilianisation inside the Garda, and particularly given that the Policing Authority told us, and indeed the Minister, that the targets for civilian recruitment are way off and the authority has huge concerns about this, why are we allocating less money to pay this year than was spent last year? Maybe the Minister could address as part of that why the Department has had a Supplementary Estimate on pay every year for the past 14 years. Why do we get it so wrong? Will we get it wrong again this year?