Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I listened carefully to the Deputy. I want to clarify that the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the allocation of the very substantial budget that An Garda Síochána receives. I do not politically interfere in policing matters nor direct the Commissioner where to deploy resources. The allocation of Garda resources is a matter for the Commissioner, in light of his identified operational demands and arrangements for Garda overtime. It is not a matter for which I, as Minister, have responsibility. This is in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 under which the Garda Commissioner is the Accounting Officer for the Garda Vote and is responsible for the effective and efficient use of the resources at his disposal. Under the Act, the Commissioner is responsible for directing and controlling the Garda Síochána and for carrying on and managing generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána.

I again confirm the Government’s firm commitment to supporting An Garda Síochána and ensuring that the organisation is appropriately resourced. The resources available to An Garda Síochána have reached unprecedented levels, with provision this year of more than €1.6 billion, including the allocation of €98.5 million for overtime. As I stated, the allocation of these resources is a matter for the Commissioner, in light of his identified operational demands. I am informed by the Garda authorities that expenditure on overtime to the end of September 2018 amounted to €95.1 million. I am further informed that, in order to limit the projected overspend for this year, the Commissioner has directed a number of measures to effectively manage Garda resources and limit the need for additional public funding. I am informed that these measures include cancellation of overtime for administrative purposes to ensure that front-line policing services have the required resources for the remainder of the year. I understand that some other measures have also been put in place in relation to overtime. For example, Garda management has been directed to ensure that Garda duties such as attendance of Garda members at courts and in the management of prison escorts are undertaken on regular tours as opposed to on overtime. A range of other measures to reduce expenditure across a number of other subheads, including travel and subsistence, was also introduced to limit the need for additional funding.

Management of Garda resources by the Commissioner in this way does not equate to a ban on overtime, as mentioned by the Deputy. I am informed that the cancellation of overtime for administrative purposes is precisely to ensure that front-line policing services continue with sufficient resources. I have been informed by the Garda authorities that all essential policing operations, such as Operation Thor, will continue as before.

I remind the House that Garda overtime cannot be considered in isolation. We are making tangible progress on achieving the Government’s vision of an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021, including 15,000 Garda members, 2,000 reservists and 4,000 civilians. Since the opening of the Garda College in Templemore in September 2014, almost 2,200 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream duties across the country, including Cork.

The unprecedented investment now being made in Garda ICT infrastructure, with €342 million between 2016 and 2021, will enable An Garda Síochána to deliver on reform, work more efficiently and deploy the latest cutting edge technologies in delivering professional policing and security services for the community, as conceded by Deputy Ó Laoghaire.

The key issues are that management of the Garda budget, including overtime, and management and control of An Garda Síochána are matters which, by law, fall to the Garda Commissioner.

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