Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The justice allocation for 2024 of €3.5 billion is a real boost in helping us build stronger, safer communities. We are doing this across a range of areas, including supporting and strengthening An Garda Síochána, establishing community safety partnerships across the country and operating a zero-tolerance approach domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. We are also investing in our courts and prisons and increasing access to justice.

I am allocating an unprecedented €2.31 billion to An Garda Síochána, an increase of over €172 million on 2023. This is an increase of 23% or €430 million in the last three years. Maintaining and enhancing our policing service by increasing Garda and civilian staff numbers is key to stronger, safer communities. This record level of funding is recognition of the need to support our individual members of An Garda Síochána who every day do superb work in often very complex and challenging circumstances. It will provide for the recruitment of between 800 and 1,000 gardaí next year. I am particularly pleased that the budget funds an increase in the Garda trainee allowance to €305, a two thirds increase on the current level in place since 2011. These increased payments will begin on 1 January, but with a backdated lump sum payment in January for those in the college between budget day and January. Specifically, €6 million is also being allocated for Garda well-being initiatives, medical costs and 2,500 units of body armour.

We recognise the devastating impact crime has, not only on the individuals whose lives have been affected, but on the wider community. More gardaí proactively patrolling in our cities, towns and rural areas as well as more Garda staff helps us to maintain law and order and makes everyone feel safer. A 25% increase in Garda overtime for 2024 will allow for continued high visibility policing and the recruitment of 250 additional Garda staff will make sure that Garda members are freed up, in so far as is possible, for front-line duties. The steady stream of Garda recruits entering and exiting Templemore will reduce the need for overtime as the year progresses.

We will open another campaign soon to help us guarantee that there are up to 200 new recruits entering Templemore every three months over the coming years.

We have all been shocked and concerned by the recent rise in fatalities on our roads. I recently announced extra funding to increase the number of GoSafe speed camera hours to 9,000 a month. In this budget, we are funding these increased hours for the duration of 2024. That should be welcomed. Taken together with very strong ongoing Garda recruitment, I hope these measures and increased numbers in our road traffic units will help to save lives on our roads.

The gross allocation of €571 million for the Department’s Vote represents an increase of €26 million on this year. The major increase in funding is to support victims and vulnerable people and will help to provide vital services to those who need them. Tackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is an absolute priority for me, both in providing victim-centred supports and services and also ensuring that perpetrators are punished. The budget provides an extra €12.3 million for 2024 - record funding for combatting domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. It will provide for a new agency for domestic violence, which will become fully operational in January 2024. It will also provide for additional project management support to assist local organisations in the concept, planning and construction of refuge accommodation. The funding also strengthens the nationwide supports and will help to maintain the momentum in implementing the ambitious goals set out in the zero-tolerance national strategy.

As a country, we stand firm with the people of Ukraine and can be proud of our response to the humanitarian crisis. I am pleased that we have funding of €6 million for my Department’s response. So far, we have welcomed more than 96,000 Ukrainians to Ireland and we will continue to ensure that those fleeing the conflict and seeking temporary protection here receive the support they need.

Since the pandemic, we have seen a significant rise in immigration and international protectionapplications. Additional funding of nearly €21 million will go towards increasing efficiency in processing applications to achieve more than 1,200 decisions a month in 2024.

I will shortly announce another set of successful applicants to the community safety innovation fund. This fund brings back proceeds of crime which the Criminal Assets Bureau has confiscated and invests them back into community projects. I am pleased the fund will reach €3.75 million in 2024. Next year, €2.25 million will also be provided for the roll-out of the community safety partnerships and a national co-ordination office to lead on this.

An increase of €2.5 million will bring the total allocation for the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission to €19.2 million to support its transition to a new body under the policing, security and community safety legislation next year.

I am also pleased to have secured additional funding of €5.5 million for the Legal Aid Board and €2.5 million for probation services to support them in their essential work in diverting people from prison and offering offenders alternatives to prison. The total gross allocation for the prisons Vote is €439 million. This includes an extra €10.6 million in payroll to fund public sector pay increases and additional staff and to provide 68,000 additional hours for prison-based staff to assist with the management of the prisoner population. New staff will include a rapid prison building unit to drive the Government's intention to provide of in excess of 400 new prison spaces over the next five years. There will also be €5 million in additional non-pay funding to provide for inflationary measures and increasing costs.

The gross allocation of €183 million for the courts Vote includes capital funding of €67 million. Earlier this year, following the publication in February of the final report of the judicial planning working group, the Government committed to an historic increase of the number of judges to facilitate greater access to justice.

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