Results 12,081-12,100 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Seven million euro in capital minus the savings in the area of maintenance gives €5.5 million. That is for 400 cars. The fitting out will take place early in the new year, and there is a budgetary allocation for that.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is €3 million in relation to that ratio.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The outsourcing of the operation of safety cameras commenced in November 2010 and they reached full operational capacity in March 2011. The contract is for five years, from November 2010, with an option to extend for one further year. Provision had not been made for the gross cost of the contract in the Estimates due to the budgetary constraints operating in recent years. That is part of...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will recall that at the time he raised this concern, I received a report from the Commissioner on that issue and how it was being handled by An Garda Síochána and, in fact, she was prioritising that area at the time. I certainly can get an update for the Deputy. As for the €3 million in question, I believe it is for separate, more basic ICT, as opposed to being...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Yes.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: That is correct. This is about trying to identify the most appropriate technology given the range of needs and systems. The bottom line is they are in need of updating. The computer-aided dispatch, CAD, system is only in place in five areas.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The entire question of access using modern technology is a key issue within An Garda Síochána. For example, the rosters and duty hours that gardaí do clearly should be on a human resources system, which would reduce the amount of time spent on administrative duties. This is a major priority on which I will have further discussions with the Minister for Public Expenditure and...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank the Deputy.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: To which bill does the Chairman refer?

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: There is an environmental strategy, which is being carried out in association with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, in a bid to have best practice in that area and to reduce bills.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is important.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Obviously, addressing the energy rating of the various Garda stations would be part of that and it is included. I am sure this can be developed further.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: As opposed to crime figures or as well as crime figures?

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: In 2014, the current number is 1,091. I can tell the Deputy that a further 62 Garda Reserve trainees will graduate this Friday, which will bring the number to 1,153, which is almost back to 2013 levels. The new Garda Commissioner has expressed her interest in and commitment to the development of the Garda Reserve and is on record as saying this. Recruitment is ongoing and actually is an...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to make a number of points in response to what members have said. In response to Deputy Alan Farrell, under this subhead, we need more sophisticated technology to track the HR side of An Garda Síochána. This need has clearly been identified. An Garda Síochána does not have the necessary systems in place. There has been no investment to speak of in the HR side of...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: A number of factors are at issue. To put matters in perspective, Garda pay and superannuation costs make up 90% of current expenditure on the Garda Vote. In 2014 the total combined provision for pay and pensions is €1.173 billion. The current expenditure and non-pay allocation by comparison is €146 million. We are really talking about pay and pensions primarily. People...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I cannot provide a separate breakdown of the figure for Garda recruits, but it would not amount to much in the context of the overall payroll budget. The additional allocation of €40 million provided in the budget represents a 5% increase, compared with the corresponding figure in the 2014 Estimates. It is effectively to cover payroll costs and allowances. To return to the point...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Will I take questions one by one?

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The reality is that if gardaí are called to perform duties, the cost is carried in their standard pay which is covered by this subhead. I recently answered a question on the amount of Garda time and the precise cost connected with the water meter protests. While I was informed by An Garda Síochána that it was difficult to break down the precise costs involved, as one can...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: There are 100 new Garda recruits who started in September. As Deputies know, it is the first recruitment since 2009. We will have another 100 recruits starting on 8 December.