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

I welcome the opportunity to speak in this debate. At the start, I am pleased to say that I and my colleagues, the Ministers of State, Deputies Brophy and Collins, have secured an allocation of €6.17 billion for the justice sector in this year's budget. This is a record allocation that involves a €330 million increase on last year and it will allow us to invest in a number of priority areas.

One of the main areas within the justice budget is in respect of the Vote for An Garda Síochána. I am very pleased to be able to say that the funding we have secured will assist An Garda Síochána in doing the very valuable work it is required to do on behalf of the people of Ireland in order to keep them safe. Under the budget, we have secured sufficient funding for the recruitment of up to 1,000 new gardaí and 200 additional staff members. I am also pleased to announce we have secured funding to double the number of Garda reservists from 300 to 600. Recruitment in those areas is now ongoing.

Garda overtime is a very important part of the budget and the reason this is so is that we need to ensure there are sufficient resources on the street with respect to visibility for An Garda Síochána. That is why I am pleased announce that 392,000 additional hours of Garda overtime will be available in 2026. I have also secured a significant capital budget of €390 million to deliver new Garda stations, courts, extra prison spaces and increased investment in cybersecurity. I am also pleased to say that €80 million will be available to support Cuan and services supporting victims and survivors of domestic violence. Some €5 million will be provided in additional funding to support those victims.

Prisons are a particularly challenging issue for me and my colleagues in the Department, and I am pleased to say we will have 250 additional staff for the prison and probation services next year. There is also an allocation of €123 million - up €27 million - to allow for full restoration of criminal legal aid fees in 2026 in conjunction with systemic reform of the criminal legal aid system.

Specifically in respect of An Garda Síochána, there is €77 million in additional funding for up to 1,000 new gardaí and 200 new staff. There is also, as I said, a budget to recruit 300 new Garda reserves and also a budget of €169 million to provide the overtime I have outlined already.

Garda technology is extremely important. I am pleased to say that investment of €160 million in Garda technology has been secured. This includes €19 million to begin the national roll-out of the digital evidence management system and body-worn cameras. Members will be aware that body-worn cameras are an extremely important part of the work being done by An Garda Síochána. I am pleased to say that we will be able to roll them out across the country next year.

The budget will see the completion of the Bailieborough Garda station and the Drogheda property and exhibits management system, PEMS, store next year. We will see construction being advanced in other Garda stations, such as Newcastle West, Portlaoise, Macroom and Clonmel, and a new PEMS store in Tallaght.

My colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Collins, will talk about youth justice and the significant amount of money that is being put into youth justice, as it is extremely important that we seek to divert young people from a pathway of criminality. A significant budget increase of over 11% for the Probation Service allows for 100 additional staff to increase supervision capacity and support the expansion of community-based sanctions as an alternative to prison.

My colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, will talk about the significant work that we are doing and the achievements we are making in the area of immigration. A budget of €7.5 million has been assigned to increase the number of people removed from the State through voluntary returns and enforced deportations. We have also reduced the budget as a result of the good work that has been done by me and my colleagues in the Department to cut down the costs in respect of people fleeing the war in Ukraine. That budget allocation has been reduced by €170 million.

I have already identified the funding that was provided in respect of Cuan. That is essential, ongoing work to ensure we combat gender-based violence.

The community safety fund will have €4.75 million. That is money reinvested from the Criminal Assets Bureau back into communities. I hope shortly to be able to announce where that money will go.

Also, with regard to the Courts Service, I have secured increased funding of €10.7 million. This will allow for the appointment of 20 additional judges. I am also pleased that I have been able to provide increased funding for the Free Legal Advice Centres of 50% on last year.

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