Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 1: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will confirm reports that he has been unable to secure the agreement of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to allocate the additional €16 million necessary to cover garda costs in relation to the visit of Queen Elizabeth II and President Obama; the effect that this lack of a refund is having on garda activities; the information he provided to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38144/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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It is starting to feel a little like Groundhog Day, as Deputy Dara Calleary, Deputy Jonathan O'Brien and I addressed this issue earlier this morning when we discussed the Supplementary Estimates.

Arrangements have been made for the provision of additional funding for the Garda Vote in 2011 by way of the Supplementary Estimate which we dealt with earlier. One of the main reasons for the Supplementary Estimate is to provide for an overrun on expenditure that has arisen in connection with the policing of the State visits of Queen Elizabeth II and President Obama. This situation has arisen because the visits had not been planned by the time the Garda Estimates for 2011 were finalised and the Supplementary Estimate will resolve the funding issue.

At this stage the Supplementary Estimate has been considered by the Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality and I look forward to its early adoption. Additionally, in the lead up to the Supplementary Estimate I have engaged very actively with my Government colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin, regarding the costs of the State visits. This has been an ongoing process and I am very pleased that it has been brought to a successful conclusion and that the funding required has been made available.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I put the question down in light of remarks the Minister made publicly last week, and we dealt with the issue this morning. However, I am anxious to ensure that the allocation approved by the committee this morning will cover the exact cost of the visits. The Minister referred to Garda efficiencies. What are those efficiencies? Do they include a cutback in policing programmes? I realise that we went through the figures this morning, but will the Minister comment on Operation Freeflow and whether there will be one in Dublin this year? Has it been curtailed as one of the Garda efficiencies? Will any other programme be curtailed?

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Additional costs of €36 million were incurred for the visits of Queen Elizabeth II and President Obama. The original estimate was that the cost would be approximately €20 million. The Queen's visit turned out to be a good deal longer than was originally anticipated and was most successful. Efficiencies have been effected across the Garda Vote, as they have been effected across other parts of the justice Vote within the Department so matters could be dealt with in a more efficient and effective way. I assure the Deputy that whatever outstanding funding the Garda requires arising from the visits is being provided.

The Garda has operated with great efficiency and effectiveness this year. There has been a series of operations in which the Garda has targeted drug gangs and those engaged, for example, in the sale and smuggling of illegal fuel in this country. The force will continue to work to the highest level of efficiency. With regard to Operation Freeflow, this is a matter for the Garda Commissioner. Usually there is an announcement in December about it and I anticipate that the Garda will take such action this year as is necessary to ensure that our roads are safe. As I said earlier today, there has been a substantial reduction in the number of lives lost on our roads this year and in the number of road traffic accidents. That is partly contributed to by the vigilance of An Garda Síochána.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Garda Commissioner appeared before the committee this morning and we all took the opportunity to pay tribute to the Garda. Will the Minister confirm that the €36 million cost of the two visits, and everybody agrees on the benefits of those visits, has been provided in full to the Garda and that no other Garda programme has been affected by that cost?

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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There was €36 million excess expenditure incurred within the Garda Vote because it was not anticipated that either visit would take place. During the course of the year the Garda has effected efficiencies in the manner in which it has delivered its services. The Garda has fully maintained all necessary front line services and has been particularly effective. The additional sum of €27.4 million that has been allocated was discussed earlier today. Approximately €15 million of that is directly in respect of the visits and the remaining sums were not required by the Garda because of the efficiencies that have been effected during the year. It is not my purpose as Minister to provide the Garda with funding it does not require. The funding it requires is being provided and front line services have been fully and properly maintained. Efficiencies have been effected, which is in the interests of the taxpayers and of the Garda fulfilling its obligations to use resources in the most efficient and effective way.

As I said at the meeting of the justice committee, I pay tribute to the Garda Commissioner, the officers and all the members of the force for the manner in which they have dealt with a range of issues this year in a cost-effective way. That is the way to proceed into the future.