Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 80: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the budget of the office of the Garda Síochana Ombudsman for 2008 and to date in 2009; the projected budget for 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40324/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The budget for the Garda Ombudsman Commission is provided from the Vote for the Office of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

The budget for the Garda Ombudsman Commission for 2008 was €11.645 million. During the supplementary estimates process for that year savings of approximately €1.8 million were identified yielding a final outturn figure of €9.845 million for 2008. Savings arose in 2008 for a number of reasons including, deferral of proposed works on the Garda Ombudsman Commission's accommodation, savings achieved in the purchase of IT software and IT training and legal costs being less than originally anticipated.

The budget for the Garda Ombudsman Commission for 2009 is €11.058 million. The 2009 outturn is expected to be on a par with 2008.

As the Deputy will be aware, a significant reduction in public expenditure for 2009 & 2010 must be achieved. No area can expect to escape the impact of these cuts. Next year's budget for the Garda Ombudsman Commission is still being considered in the context of the preparation of the 2010 estimates for the wider Justice Vote. At this stage I am not in a position to give a figure in this regard.