Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I am pleased to present to the select committee the Revised Estimates for 2018 for the Justice Vote group. We have not put a timeframe on the meeting. In the context of the previous item, it was my hope I would be in a position to attend the Dáil Chamber for Leaders' Questions. Oftentimes there are justice issues when I would like to be near the Taoiseach who in such cases likes to have me near at hand. I am, however, in the hands of the committee.

The justice Vote group is made up of six Votes with in 2018 a combined gross expenditure allocation of €2.58 billion - €2.43 billion in current expenditure and €144 million in capital expenditure. In addition, there is a further capital provision of €17.9 million in unspent capital from 2017 available for spending in 2018 under the capital carryover provisions.

By way of information for committee members, there were eight votes in the justice Vote group in 2017. However, arising from a decision of the Government, responsibility for the Votes for the Valuation Office, the Property Registration Authority and Ordnance Survey Ireland, all of which were previously part of the Justice and Equality Vote group, was transferred to the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government in 2018. These are constituent bodies which will eventually merge to form Táilte Éireann.

The gross expenditure Estimate for the Garda Vote - Vote 20 - is €1.650 billion which amounts to 64% of the funding for the entire Vote group. The Estimate for 2018 is increased further by an additional amount of €8.9 million carried forward from 2017 under the capital carryover provisions. The high proportion of resources again allocated to the Garda Vote in 2018 underlines the Government’s commitment to ensure a strong and visible police presence throughout the State, maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance for citizens and deter crime.

In July 2016 the Government agreed an overall vision for the Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021 to include 15,000 Garda members, 2,000 Garda Reserve members and 4,000 civilians. Since the reopening of the Garda College in Templemore in September 2014, just under 1,800 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and been assigned to mainstream duties nationwide. Taking account of retirements, Garda numbers increased to 13,551 at the end of 2017. This represented a net increase of more than 600 since the end of 2016. In addition, 800 Garda trainees are scheduled to attest during 2018, 200 of whom attested over the St. Patrick’s Day weekend. This will see Garda numbers, taking account of projected retirements, reach 14,000 by the end of 2018. A further 800 new Garda recruits will also enter the Garda College this year. I am encouraged that the number of civilians working in An Garda Síochána continues to increase, with the numbers at the end of 2017 showing more civilians working in the organisation than in each of the previous seven years. Funding for a further 500 additional civilians is provided in the 2018 Estimate. In that context, I expect the process of civilianisation to accelerate this year.

In addition to staffing resources, significant investment continues to be made in other areas of the Garda Vote. I am particularly pleased that an additional €157 million in capital investment was secured for the justice sector following the mid-term review of the Government’s capital plan for the period 2016 to 2021, a significant proportion of which relates to the Garda Vote. This level of funding is reflected in the national development plan that was published recently. The plan provides for significant continuing investment in Garda capital funding in the next ten years, including ICT as a central component of the Garda modernisation and renewal programme; the Garda building and refurbishment programme; development of Garda training facilities; and continuing investment in the Garda fleet. In 2018 the ICT and telecommunications budget is €40 million. There is a further €5 million available for expenditure on the transport fleet and almost €25.6 million in the Garda capital building and refurbishment programme. The total Garda capital expenditure budget in the period 2018 to 2021 is in the region of €400 million.

With these unprecedented levels of investment come responsibilities and deliverables and the resources are intrinsically linked with the modernisation and renewal programme which is the vehicle for implementation of the agreed recommendations made in the Garda Inspectorate's report Changing Policing in Ireland and the commitments given in A Programme for a Partnership Government aimed at increasing the visibility of An Garda Síochána. Members will be aware that the Policing Authority is overseeing implementation of the recommendations and reports on a quarterly basis. To date, it has submitted four reports which have been published. As evidenced in the reports, good progress is being made in a number of areas, with more to be done on a number of the other recommendations made. A prioritisation exercise under way is an effective strategy. In that context, An Garda Síochána acknowledges that there are key recommendations that, if implemented, will have the capacity to leverage significant change in the organisation.

I am particularly pleased that positive progress has been made in embedding the code of ethics throughout the force. Also, the divisional model of policing will shortly be rolled out on a pilot basis in four divisions. Under this model, responsibilities will be allocated on a functional, rather than a geographical, basis, subject to modifications, to ensure the close relationship with communities is maintained in large rural divisions. The Commissioner has selected the four divisions - the Dublin metropolitan region south central, Cork city, Galway and Mayo - for the pilot scheme in order to provide a mix of urban and rural policing environments. Members will also be aware that the Independent Commission on the Future of Policing commenced work in May 2017. It is due to report in September. It is consulting widely in the course of its work, including with the public and civic society and other bodies or individuals it considers appropriate, including all of the major stakeholders. It also held a meeting with Members of the Houses, with a strong cross-party attendance. I acknowledge the contribution of members of the committee in that regard. The commission issued a request for submissions on all aspects of its terms of reference. It has also held public meetings in a number of venues across the State, including Dublin, Cork, Donegal, Waterford, Athlone and Limerick, among others. Commission members have visited urban and rural Garda stations in a number of counties and also undertaken study visits in Ireland, Great Britain, Northern Ireland and the United States of America. I look forward to receiving the output of this extensive body of work later this year.

Vote 24 - Justice and Equality - has a gross Estimate provision of just under €444 million and is broken down into five separate programmes comprising almost 60 separate subheads reflecting the Department’s strategy. Programme A is leadership in and oversight of justice and equality policy and delivery. It includes areas such as the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC, and the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner, both of which are important bodies in the deliberations of the committee. An additional €4 million is being provided for the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner, bringing the total budget to almost €11.7 million in 2018. The increased budget is reflective of the additional staffing and other resource requirements of the office in view of the fundamental transformation of the data protection environment arising from implementation of the general data protection regulation this year.

The increased funding fully reflects the importance of a stable and effective data protection regulatory environment in terms of the personal data of individuals but also in relation to the broader economy and in particular the continuing expansion and growth of the digital technology sector. It was also possible to provide an additional €300,000 to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission to strengthen staffing resources including a new unit established on protected disclosures. The resource requirements will continue to be monitored on an ongoing basis.

Programme B, a safe and secure Ireland, includes funding for front-line support services and agencies such as Forensic Science Ireland, FSI, the Probation Service, and Services to Victims of Crime, Cosc and State Pathology. I am pleased that the building of a new forensic science lab on a site at Backweston in County Kildare will proceed this year. Site enabling and other preparatory works commenced this year. A total of €9 million is being provided this year, with significant funding capital provided in the capital plan to complete the construction over the next couple of years. Forensic Science Ireland makes a most significant expert contribution to the criminal justice system. Funding to continue to develop the new facility is most important. Not only will this provide a state-of-the-art facility to enable FSI to provide a much improved service in analysing samples submitted from crime scenes, providing expert witness in criminal trials, but also it will facilitate the merger of FSI with the Garda Technical Bureau.

Programme C, access to justice, includes the provision for the Legal Aid Board, the coroner service and the costs associated with commissions and special inquires.

Programme D, an equal and inclusive society, provides for funding for the Office of Migrant Integration as well as provision for Traveller initiatives, gender equality, disability awareness and social inclusion measures across a wide spectrum of areas. The Estimate for 2018 includes a provision of €3 million for the Decision Support Service under the aegis of the Mental Health Commission. This funding will facilitate the implementation of the Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act 2015. The role of the Decision Support Service is to support decision making by and for adults experiencing capacity difficulties.

Programme E, an efficient responsive and fair immigration, asylum and citizenship system. This mainly includes funding for the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service and asylum seekers accommodation. Additional funding this year of €4 million is provided to establish the new passenger information unit, the primary role of which is to protect the safety and security of individuals through the prevention and detection of terrorist offences and serious crime. Turning to the prison's Vote, Vote 21, the current estimate in 2018 is for €341 million plus an additional €2.23 million in unspent capital from last year. The funding this year includes the provision for the financing of a step-down facility for women prisoners in the Dublin area. It will accommodate women for a period of time following custody or on probation supervision who are assessed as suitable to reside in the community and have accommodation or other needs which require support. The prison's capital budget over the period 2018 to 2021 will be in the region of €120 million. It will enable construction of the new wing in Limerick Prison as well as the improvement of facilities in Portlaoise and other prisons including the development of a masterplan for the Mountjoy campus aimed at centralising and enhancing shared services on that site. A total Estimate in gross terms of €132 million is being provided for the Courts Service, Vote 22, plus an additional €6 million in unspent capital from last year. The unspent capital from last year mainly relates to payments in respect of the regional public private partnership projects, PPPs, including a VAT payment to the Revenue Commissioners which did not fall due until this year. The estimate for this year includes €55 million in capital funding, including the carryover amount, mainly relating to the repayments in related to projects delivered under the PPP, mechanism but also including continuing investment in information and communications technology, ICT. An additional €5 million in ICT investment is being made available over the period 2019 to 2021 for enhanced courtroom technology to assist the efficient running of the courts as well as facilitating increased collaboration within the justice sector in criminal matters and the development in data sharing between agencies across the justice system. A gross Estimate of €3.34 million has been provided for the Policing Authority, Vote 41, which includes an increase of €600,000 compared with 2017 to provide for additional staffing, accommodation and other costs associated with the important work of the Policing Authority. The gross expenditure budget for the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, IHREC, Vote 25, is €6.7 million to enable it to continue its important work in promoting and protecting human rights and equality. In conclusion, a Chathaoirligh, that is a synopsis of the very broad justice sector group which I have given and I would be happy to take questions.