Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome this opportunity, which is my first one, to speak on the justice Vote group Estimates. Each year, this State spends a considerable amount of money on those elements within the control of the Department of Justice and Equality. It is extremely important that the elected Members of Dáil Éireann have an opportunity on behalf of the citizens who elect us to consider those Estimates and ensure that this significant amount of money is spent carefully and effectively on behalf of the people of Ireland.

It is instructive to note that the justice Vote is the fourth largest ministerial vote in terms of budgetary allocation. Only social protection, health and education exceed it. The total gross Estimate for justice for next year is in the region of €2.4 billion. It is important that we know where that money is being spent. It is also instructive to note how it is apportioned between the different elements under the control of the Department of Justice and Equality. The significant majority of the expenditure goes on the Garda Síochána, which accounts for some 63% of the total Vote. The Department of Justice and Equality, in terms of its management, accounts for 16.73% of the Vote. The prisons account for just over 13.5% of the Vote. In many respects the Courts Service is the poor relation, accounting for 4.5% of the Vote. There are also some other elements such as the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, the Policing Authority and the Property Registration Authority.

I will start by referring to the Estimate for the Garda Síochána. As the Minister has indicated, the expenditure in respect of the Garda Síochána is in the region of €1.4 billion for 2016. There are some aspects of the expenditure I wish to highlight. I note the expenditure that has been increased in respect of the Garda Reserve. We do not emphasise enough the potential of the Garda Reserve. It is an aspect of policing and assisting policing in this country that could be increased and improved and could be relied on more by the gardaí and the State for the purpose of less important policing activity. I am pleased that there was an increase in the amount of money available to the Garda Reserve. However, I would also like to see an increase in recruitment to the Garda Reserve and greater reliance placed upon it.

The document in respect of the Garda Síochána also identifies key outputs and public service activities in a number of matters concerning the Garda. One which I wish to refer to is the number of new recruits commencing at the Garda college. I welcome that the output target for 2016 is 600 new recruits, which is a considerable improvement on the output target of 2015. It is also noteworthy, as the Minister has said, that overtime allocation for Operation Thor has increased and it appears to be effective. The money appears to be well spent and we are getting a return on it in terms of the overtime, which is having an impact on burglaries and related crimes.

The Minister indicated today and previously that there has been an increase in funding for the Garda Síochána and, as I and my party have done before, I wish to welcome that additional funding. An additional allocation of €55 million is to be made available for the remainder of 2016, including €5 million that was announced in February. The funding is made up of €40 million in additional Exchequer funding plus €15 million to be funded from projected savings based on analysis of expenditure trends elsewhere in the justice and equality sector. However, it should be pointed out that until the Supplementary Estimate of €40 million was announced, the Garda budget on the current side was set to fall from €1.446 billion in 2015 to €1.421 billion, which would have been a fall of €25 million. It appears the extra €40 million announced on the current side means a net increase of around €15 million compared to the outturn in 2015. Notwithstanding that, we welcome the additional funding. We believe that further additional funding may be required in due course if we are to ensure that the policing strategy in this country is effective in terms of fighting crime in Dublin and throughout the country.

The Vote for the Policing Authority, as a percentage of the money we spend on the Garda Síochána, is minuscule. All that is provided for in the Vote is €2.64 million. I do not criticise the amount being spent, nor do is say it is too low, but I wish to emphasise that the Policing Authority is an authority that can be used by the State to ensure we get greater oversight of the Garda Síochána and improvements in management and supervision. I hope to see the Policing Authority driving through some of the necessary changes in the Garda Síochána that the Minister and most other Members of this House recognise are required. One of the requirements of the Policing Authority in the coming year is to publish a code of ethics for members of the Garda Síochána. I welcome that important development. The role of the Policing Authority, acting as oversight for the Garda, is something we should examine and ensure that it is carried out effectively.

The Vote for prisons in 2016 is €318 million. Some useful information is provided in the documents furnished by the Department with regard to the prison Vote, not only in respect of the prison capacity but also in respect of those who are on structured temporary release. I welcome the provision of this information. I also welcome the likely dramatic decrease in the number of prisoners without 24-hour access to in-cell sanitation in 2016. The 2015 output target was 285; the 2016 output target is 80. We have to ensure there is that level of humanity in how we treat our prisoners. I note that the qualitative statements of outputs and activities recorded in respect of the 2015 output target place stronger emphasis and focus on motivating sex offenders and violent offenders to participate in appropriate offence or behaviour-related programmes. We need to do more than motivate; as time progresses, we need to ensure that individuals who are in prison for serious offences are required and mandated to undergo such training.

It is also instructive to note that we still have serious addiction issues in respect of prisoners in prison. The number of prisoners who received opiate substitution treatment such as methadone in 2013 was 1,922. In 2014 this rose to 2,305, which is approximately 12% of our prison population. It indicates the problems we have with drug abuse and the drug problems that prisoners have, which we need to tackle in the future.

I previously described the Courts Service, perhaps unfairly, as the poor relation, but all it gets is €63 million under the Vote. Notwithstanding that, the output from the courts is commendable and deserves to be recognised. With regard to the number of sittings of the Court of Appeal and the High Court as well as civil sittings, the output target was 4,700 in both 2015 and 2016. In view of the fact that we only have 45 judges in the Court of Appeal and the High Court combined, we can see that there is a considerable amount of work being done. Work is being done at a considerable rate. It is noted in the Revised Estimates that the target is based on the maximum possible number of court sitting dates and the availability of a full complement of judges. One of my concerns is that for over six months there have been vacancies in the Court of Appeal and the High Court which need to be filled in order to enable judges to deal with the entitlement of citizens to get their cases heard quickly.

Another point that should be made in respect of supporting the Judiciary is that Ireland, although not unique, is in the minority in that we do not have a judicial college in this country. That is something that is being explored and that we need to move further on.

Of the €350 million allocated to the justice and equality Vote, a considerable amount of money is devoted to ensuring we have an efficient, responsive and fair immigration system. That is something we need to work on, because the delays in it are too long. We need to ensure that the system becomes more effective and user-friendly.

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