Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 1: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the action he proposes to take following the recent report of the Garda audit committee, which documents the chronic underfunding of the Garda Síochána. [14242/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The report of the Garda audit committee should not be misinterpreted as indicating any underfunding of the Garda in 2007. The report referred to by the Deputy was submitted to the Garda Commissioner. The Garda budget for 2007 was a record high of more than €1.4 billion. This enabled the force to continue to expand its attested strength to 13,755 by the end of the year, with a further thousand recruits in training. It also enabled the force to increase its civilian support staff by an unprecedented 32%. The budget also made possible the continued renewal and expansion of the Garda fleet and facilitated a major investment in information and communication technology. The fact that an additional €25 million was made available to the Garda by way of Supplementary Estimate is not an indication of an inadequacy in the original budget for 2007. It was not needed to plug gaps. Instead, and following regular monitoring of expenditure trends and operational requirements over the year by the Garda and my Department, it was made available to facilitate a further increase in discretionary spending on overtime, significantly above the budget provision of €88.8 million. As is standard practice, the Supplementary Estimate was submitted to, and approved by, the House towards the end of the financial year when the likely outturn figures were known.

The reality from an auditing perspective is, had this additional provision not been available, discretionary expenditure would have been maintained within the original allocation without impact on the original agreed priorities. In the final analysis the expenditure for the Vote as a whole for 2007 was €21 million more than the original Estimate provision, representing just 1.5% of the overall Garda budget. With regard to this year, the total budget increased by 11.6% on the 2007 allocation to more than €1.6 billion. I am satisfied sufficient funds are available again this year for the Garda to carry out its functions, expand its strength and continue the major programme of investment under way. Although the report is submitted to the Commissioner, not to me, I interpret the report as referring to the Supplementary Estimate and the need for same.

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Not enough is being done to deal with the problem of crime in Dublin and in the country. The key to resolving it in the interim is to sufficiently resource the Garda. There are not sufficient resources and, in spite of the Minister's reply that increased resources have been granted, with which I do not have a difficulty, the omens are not good. Last year, a Supplementary Estimate of €25 million was needed and a similar amount will be needed this year if sufficient funds are to be made available. Warnings have been issued by no less a person than Mr. John Leamy, who recently took up an important position, and a colleague of the Minister in Cabinet who indicated the Garda is struggling to keep up with legislative changes and the new responsibilities involved. Votes containing sufficient resources are vitally important.

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy raised a number of points. I reiterate the increase in expenditure this year is 11.6%, which is substantial. The Garda has maintained Operation Anvil in Dublin, mandatory breath testing nationwide, policing of the Corrib gas project in Rossport, County Mayo, and Shannon security operation. These are examples of operations that necessitated additional expenditure on overtime last year, which will not necessarily arise on an annual basis. That illustrates one of the reasons the Supplementary Estimate was required last year.

With regard to the Dublin metropolitan region, since 2005 under Operation Anvil, 86,941 checkpoints were deployed, leading to more than 12,000 arrests, of which 111 were murder-related, 1,258 related to serious assault, 3,044 related to burglary and 1,047 related to robbery. The Garda is engaged in a relentless war against criminals and I do not accept it is losing the war. The resources allocated this year are sufficient for the force to do its job.

With regard to the possible legislative indigestion of the Garda, I accept a volume of legislation was enacted in recent years. I said to the Garda Commissioner and to gardaí on visits to stations that I appreciate that a vast range of legislation has been enacted and they need time to digest it.

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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In spite of what the Minister says, the only benchmark or yardstick that can be used for serious crimes ranging from murder to common assault is statistics. One must contrast the resources available to the Garda with those available to criminal gangs. Last week it was reported a gang had bought 4 x 4 BMWs costing €200,000 and a 14 year old in Limerick had a bullet proof vest supplied by gangsters and a double barrel sawn off shotgun. If it was not for electricity, gardaí would be operating in Stone Age circumstances. They have no e-mail or digital radio, in spite of entering into two pilot projects in recent years. They also have no computers or laptops in cars and they have a fleet that constantly needs upgrading in terms of vehicular prowess. The situation is such that the Minister must provide resources to enable the Garda to deal with ever-changing and serious circumstances.

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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A total of €99 million is allocated this year for information technology and communications-related projects. Technology is essential and the provision of the digital radio service for the Garda is under way. A new automated fingerprint identification system has commenced and the Garda fleet has been the subject of huge investment. The investment in the motor fleet has ensured the force has the most modern fleet it ever had.