Mr. Seamus McCarthy:

The 2015 appropriation account for the Vote for An Garda Síochána recorded gross expenditure of €1.5 billion. As indicated in the diagram on screen, almost two thirds of the expenditure was related to payment of salaries, wages and allowances, which totalled €963 million. At the end of the year, just over 15,000 whole-time equivalent staff were employed, of which just under 13,000 were gardaí or trainees, with the remainder being civilian employees. An Garda Síochána spent €312 million from the Vote on pension and gratuity payments to retired members of An Garda Síochána in 2015. Pension costs of retired civilian staff are incurred on Vote 12 - Superannuation. As well as standard administration costs, expenditure was incurred on a wide range of other areas including transport, communications and other equipment, and the capital building programme.

As well as standard administration costs, expenditure was incurred on a wide range of other areas, including transport, communications and other equipment as well as the capital building programme.

The Vote for An Garda Síochána routinely receives a Supplementary Estimate towards the end of the year. A Supplementary Estimate of a little over €35 million was voted for An Garda Síochána in 2015. At the end of the year, the surplus remaining unspent was €8.5 million. Of this, some €6.6 million in unspent capital funding was carried over to 2016 with the remaining €1.8 million liable for surrender.

Apart from disclosure of the concerns around financial management at the Garda College in Templemore, the Accounting Officer statement on internal financial control discloses non-competitive procurement by An Garda Síochána of €11.5 million worth of goods and services in 2015, steps being taken to improve risk management in An Garda Síochána and concerns around the management and control of evidential and non-evidential property taken into possession by An Garda Síochána.