John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 415: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the funding being allocated by his Department for immigration control in 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12043/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The immigration control function has been characterised by the Supreme Court as comprising the control of the entry of non-nationals, their departure and their activities and duration of stay within the State. Relevant activities are carried out both by officials of my Department and members of the Garda Síochána.

Based on 2004 outturns, it is estimated that the cost of those activities within my Department in 2005 will amount to in the region of €5.3 million for pay and €6.7 million non-pay. This figure does not include the actual processing costs related to claims for refugee status or the cost of accommodation for asylum applicants.

On the Garda side, the Garda National Immigration Bureau is charged with the co-ordination of Garda operational strategies at points of entry into the State; combating trafficking in illegal immigrants, including international operational liaison; the removal of persons who had been refused leave to land from the State; the enforcement of deportation orders; and the provision of a non-national registration service in the Dublin area.

I am informed by the Garda authorities who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the provisional operational budget allocated to the Garda National Immigration Bureau for 2005 amounts to approximately €17.5 million. Certain expenditure items such as the provision of motor vehicles, information technology and other support services are accounted for on a centralised national basis. Consequently, it is not possible to provide budget details on an individual garda unit basis for those additional nationally provided services. The 2005 budget for the Garda Síochána is over €1.1 billion.