Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 133: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform the overtime bill for the Garda Síochána in the years 2008, 2009 and to date in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37005/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table.

I would ask the Deputy to note that the figure for 2009 is subject to final confirmation by way of the Appropriation Accounts process. The figure for 2010 is provisional as at 30 September 2010.

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 134: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform the cost of accommodating asylum seekers in the State in the years 2008, 2009 and to date in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37006/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department is responsible for the accommodation of asylum seekers in accordance with the Government policy of direct provision and dispersal.

In 2008, the RIA expenditure on asylum seeker accommodation was €91.5m, in 2009 the figure was €86.5m while to end September, 2010 the figure was €57.9m. The estimates provision for 2010 is €77.492m.

Direct provision provides full board accommodation and certain ancillary services to asylum seekers while they await a decision on their asylum application. The RIA is currently operating 47 centres across 20 counties providing accommodation to 6,300 asylum seekers. In line with recommendations of a Value for Money Report on the service published earlier this year, the RIA has continued to consolidate its accommodation portfolio, effecting closures and downsizing at a number of centres and has brought occupancy levels across the portfolio to in excess of 90%. As part of this consolidation process, the RIA has reduced contracted bed spaces by 686 to date in 2010 alone. The system of direct provision continues to prove the most efficient and effective means of meeting the State's international obligations in respect of the accommodation needs of asylum seekers.