Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

"Hands on" one day is "political interference" the next. I assure the House that the Government's focus on investment in personnel is critical. The moratorium on recruitment introduced in 2010 resulted in a significant reduction in the strength of the Garda. We are now rebuilding the organisation and providing the acting Commissioner with the appropriate level of resources needed to deploy increasing numbers of gardaí across divisions, including the south-central division. In addition to the Government's plan for an overall Garda workforce of 21,000, the investment in personnel is complemented by a substantial investment in resources across the board. A total budget of €1.65 billion has been provided to the Garda this year, an increase of 2% on 2017. Some €98.5 million has been provided for Garda overtime this year, representing an increase of €10 million on 2017's initial allocation. It should be noted that the Garda allocation continues to benefit from the significant additional funding that was provided in 2016 and maintained in 2017 to fund a sustained response to gangland crime and the continuation of Operation Thor and measures to prevent international terrorism.

Some €342 million, including €217 million in additional funding under the capital plan, is being invested in Garda ICT infrastructure between 2016 and 2021. This investment will continue under my watch and facilitate the provision of more effective policing services. I expect that the south-central division, like all other Garda divisions, will continue to benefit from the new resources that are now becoming available.