Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 57: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will make a statement on the Estimates for his Department for 2010. [46162/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I refer the Deputy to my press release of 9th December, 2009 in relation to the Estimates for 2010 for the Justice Sector. I do not propose outlining again all of the different elements of the estimates package. However for the benefit of the Deputy I will set out the main points. Despite the difficult economic backdrop to the framing of the estimates for 2010, the Justice Sector still has a gross budget of €2.45 billion available next year, €430.3 million for the Justice, Equality and Law Reform Vote, €1.48 billion for An Garda Síochána, €352.3m is for Prisons; €147 million is for Courts and €39 million for the Property Registration Authority. This gives me the scope to continue to prioritise resources in front line services, involved in the fight against crime.

The budget provides for continued investment of €29 million in the provision of additional prison spaces and equipment; a combined total of €54 million for Garda ICT and Communications expenditure and almost €9 million for new capital investment in the Forensic Science and State Pathology facilities.

The provision also includes a once-off VAT related capital payment in respect of the Criminal Courts Complex and €21 million in respect of the annual repayments for this new criminal justice facility.

In conclusion, while in common with all Departments at this time, the allocations available for 2010 are reduced from those of recent years I am confident that there is considerable scope with tight budget management and prioritisation of resources to effectively meet the challenges facing the Justice Sector in 2010.