Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is good to be here in person. I am seeking the committee's approval for the revised Estimates for the justice Vote group, to provide for much needed expenditure across the justice sector.

The Estimates provide for gross expenditure of €3.153 billion across the six votes in the justice sector, €2.883 billion of which is current expenditure and €270 million is capital expenditure. In addition, an amount of €12.4 million in unspent capital from 2021 has been carried over to 2022, bringing the total capital allocation available to €282.4 million.

I will set out the detail in respect of each of the individual votes, but the main objective of the funding in 2022 is protecting communities and supporting victims. This is core to what we do in the Department of Justice. The budgetary allocations reflect the ongoing and increased investment in supports for people and communities impacted by crime and also the broad range of services offered to the public, including by accelerating the digitisation of these services.

The gross expenditure estimate for Vote 20 - Garda Síochána is €2.062 billion, which amounts to 65% of the funding for the entire group. This includes a capital allocation of €146.5 million, which builds on capital expenditure of €131 million in 2021. The capital expenditure includes €61 million in respect of the building programme, including the completion of the new Military Road, Dublin 8 development, €72 million for ICT expenditure and €12 million for investment in the Garda fleet, including in the region of 100 new Garda bikes.

In the region of 88% of the Garda current expenditure budget is pay and pensions related. I am pleased that the funding for 2022 provides for a further 800 gardaí to commence training and for the recruitment of an additional 400 Garda staff to free up more gardaí for front-line duties. It is intended the next competition for recruitment to An Garda Síochána will commence shortly.

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 An Garda Síochána. In addition, since 2017, approximately 840 Garda members have been released from posts not requiring Garda powers or expertise and their duties reassigned to Garda staff. This has, in turn, facilitated the redeployment of Garda members to operational and front-line duties. This process will continue in 2022.

The budgetary allocation for 2022 includes in the region of €10 million for further investment in the new Garda uniform, which people will have seen this week, and an additional €10.5 million for Garda operational expenditure, which includes provision for new mobile devices, equipment for a range of Garda specialist units as well as on-going training in relation to priority areas such as tackling domestic, sexual 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. This significant milestone in the history of An Garda Síochána will be rightly recognised and celebrated this year.

Before moving on from the Garda Vote, I want to acknowledge and thank An Garda Síochána for its exemplary service through and during the pandemic and in the many ways An Garda Síochána continues to support communities throughout the country. The work of An Garda Síochána is valued and appreciated by people throughout the country. It is important that the work of the organisation continues to be supported and that Government is committed to this, particularly in the context of ongoing reform, which is both in the best interests of the public and of An Garda Síochána as a whole and each member who serves in it.