Written answers

Tuesday, 22 November 2005

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Garda Training

10:00 pm

Photo of Paul KehoePaul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 506: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the overtime bill for the Garda to date in 2005 and for the past ten years will be published; and the arrangements put in place to secure additional accommodation for trainee gardaí in Tipperary and the cost associated with same. [35596/05]

Photo of Michael McDowellMichael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The annual expenditure on Garda overtime is published each year in both the Comptroller and Auditor General's annual report and the Department of Finance's publication of the Revised Estimates. When the Revised Estimates for 2006 are published early in 2006, this publication will include the provisional outturn for Garda overtime for 2005 alongside the estimated provision for 2006. The expenditure for 2005 will also be published with the appropriation account, as part of the Comptroller and Auditor General's annual report for 2005 which will be published during 2006. The Garda overtime bill for each of the past ten years has been published in a similar manner.

A major expansion of the accommodation and other necessary facilities is under way in the Garda college, to facilitate the recruitment of the additional gardaí approved by the Government to bring the force up to 14,000. The works will be completed in advance of the next major intake of recruits in February 2006. Included is the provision of a new administration building with its new library, study areas and fitness centre, all of which will be completed in December 2005, as well as a new kitchen-dining hall and gym to be completed shortly thereafter. The new administration building will free up space for additional classrooms and the refurbishment of this space, together with the refurbishment of the old Garda station within the college campus to provide a new medical centre and classroom, will be completed on schedule.

The cost involved in this project, which is being funded by the Office of Public Works, is in the order of €20 million. This increased accommodation within the college, together with the outsourcing to Nenagh from April last of in-service training, will ensure it has the capacity to deal with the increased number of recruits for the period 2005 to 2007 and thereafter to cater for the additional training requirements of a 14,000-strong Garda force.

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