Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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98. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the budget allocation to and staff numbers in the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service in the years 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36007/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The budget allocation, including supplementary estimate adjustments as appropriate, for the operation of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) including wages and salaries and running costs was €52.5m, €43.5m, €49.5m and €47.5m respectively for the years 2011 to 2014. The staffing levels of INIS which forms part of the Department of Justice and Equality ranged from 615 in 2011 to its current level of 519 (full time equivalents). The equivalent budget allocations for the Direct Provision system ranged from €67.5m in 2011 to €47.5m this year. This latter budget is administered by the Reception of Integration Agency of my Department.

The variations in the overall budget estimates over the years in question relate in the main to the reduction in the cost of the Direct Provision system linked to reduced numbers in accommodation, reductions in salary costs and savings achieved under the Croke Park/Haddington Road agreement. These reductions are offset to some degree by increased investment in information technology particularly in 2013 and this year.