Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

I propose to share time with the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and the Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Conor Lenihan.

During the debate on the pre-budget Estimates, we took stock of the scale of expenditure in the different sectors and, more important, the depth and breadth of the services being delivered by Departments. The decision of the Minister for Finance to reform the system for the presentation of the public finances is a fundamental one in respect of this budget. The traditional Estimates process has been abolished and this year, for the first time, the budget day announcement clearly singled out the additional expenditure on which the Government is embarking in its financial plans next year. This is a sign of a reforming Minister for Finance.

We often heard about reform in financial procedures from the benches opposite but we have a Minister who is implementing reform in this area. The manner in which the budget was presented reflects great credit on the Minister because he has implemented a reform which eluded many of his predecessors.

I am pleased to set out in some detail the Estimates for the justice and equality sector, taking into account the budget day additions and expenditures announced by the Minister yesterday. While these figures sound impressive on their own, what matters is not the magnitude of the resources but what is being achieved with them. I share the view emphasised by the Minister for Finance and, I was pleased to note, Deputy O'Dowd, that we need to obtain value for money at all levels of public expenditure and deliver better and more effective public services. One of my key concerns is to drive this objective throughout the work of the justice and equality sector.

My priority and that of the Government in deciding where to add to funding for existing services has been to focus on the fight against crime and to extend the effective capacity of organisations at the heart of this effort. Beginning with the Garda Síochána the resources provided for 2008 have been increased by 11%. This funding makes it possible to continue Operation Anvil on a national basis and implement other intensive policing activity, with particular emphasis on tackling organised crime and road safety enforcement. It will provide for 15,000 Garda members as well as a greatly increased civilian cohort, including 300 civilians for Garda stations outside Dublin. This human personnel is being matched by an investment of more than €100 million in leading police technology, including a new, state-of-the-art digital radio system, an automatic number plate recognition system and an IT based major incident system. There will be continued expansion of the successful CCTV programme.

Less high-tech but no less essential support services are also to benefit, with funding for Garda station maintenance increased by 14% and clothing and accessories by 35%, as anti-stab and ballistic vests are delivered to serving members for their protection in frontline duties. It bears repeating that this enormous investment is taking place in parallel with a major modernisation programme designed to support the Garda in dealing with the complex challenges it faces. Other key agencies involved in tackling crime at every strategic level are receiving substantial investments. The best possible technical and forensic insight to detect and prosecute crime is essential. With this in mind, the forensic science laboratory is to be modernised and co-located with the Garda technical bureau in new facilities adjacent to the Thornton prison site. Funding has also been provided for additional scientists and analysts at the laboratory. A new facility for the Office of the State Pathologist is also in development, with funding provided in 2008 for this purpose and the recruitment of additional pathologists.

I draw attention to the provision of additional funding for the first full year of operation of the national office for the prevention of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, Cosc. Particular circumstances apply in crimes of this type and a whole-of-government approach is required to tackle it and make proper provision for its victims. I am pleased there is now in place a dedicated resourced office with the key responsibility of ensuring the delivery of a well co-ordinated response to domestic, sexual and gender based violence. The agency is not separate from the Department but an integral part of it, with its own distinctive brand and identity.

I have also provided for a major expansion of staffing in the probation and welfare service, with the recruitment of 70 additional personnel. This will complement a substantial programme of strategic restructuring and refocusing of the service's work to contribute to a reduction of offending in our communities. Of note also is the provision of €50 million, or an increase of 19%, for the youth justice service, which like the probation service has a vital role to play in addressing offending in our society. This new service brings responsibility for young offenders together under one roof for the first time. A badly needed programme of rejuvenation for youth detention and training facilities is under way and the number of youth diversion projects has been increased to 93 with more to come. The same strategic rationale applies in this instance as with the probation service. Timely, targeted and well thought out interventions at an early stage have the capacity to yield a preventative return long into the future.

More generally on the justice Vote, overall funding is up 7% and, in addition to the items I have mentioned, this is being applied in a targeted fashion at a number of priority items. These include an 11% increase in funding for the Legal Aid Board to bolster its capacity to provide legal services to persons of modest means throughout the country. The board has made substantial progress in achieving this objective in recent years and is playing a leading role in promoting alternative means of dispute resolution.

Funding under the broad equality heading has again been extended under the justice Vote and includes a substantial provision for the new office of the Minister of State with responsibility for integration as well as an increase of more than €2 million for gender mainstreaming and positive action measures for women. Of note also is the additional funding provided for the national property services regulatory authority which will be placed on a statutory footing in legislation due to be published in 2008. A new code of practice for the property service industry and a public register of licensed auctioneers and estate agents have been introduced. The establishment of the authority was one of the key recommendations of the auctioneering estate agents review group. It will act as a centrepiece for sound regulation in this field.

Overall funding for the Irish Prison Service is set to increase by 11% in 2008 with the building programme enhanced by an increase of €10 million in funding. This will yield an additional 320 prison spaces. Provision has been made to extend a range of measures introduced this year to combat organised criminal activities in prisons. These include an additional 178 personnel to establish an operational support group, specialised in searching for illicit materials, as well as drug dog units and airport style search facilities to be installed in all closed prisons.

The net estimate for the courts is up 4%. It includes funding for new stenography services and for additional support staff to support the appointment of additional judges. The Courts Service has delivered important service improvements in recent years, in particular by reducing court waiting times. These enhancements will be helped by the Estimate provision this year.

The property registration authority which was established last year and has taken responsibility for the Land Registry and the Registry of Deeds is to receive an increase of funding of €2.6 million, mainly to provide for 40 additional staff to support a greatly increased demand from the public for its services. Major investment in the digital mapping project will also continue in 2008 and will, as the culmination of a range of IT initiatives, deliver substantial efficiencies for the public into the future.

I reiterate my intention to ensure we get the best possible return for the public's investment in the justice sector. This will require careful management of the resources allocated and a focus on value for money, but the priorities I have outlined should give a good indication of what can be delivered with these resources.

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