Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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596. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 57 of 1 June 2017, if he will supply the details of the costs associated to the contracts awarded to a company (details supplied) since 2011 by An Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36662/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Commissioner is the accounting officer for the Garda Síochána Vote.

I have asked the Garda Commissioner for the specific information requested and when it is to hand I will inform the Deputy accordingly.

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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597. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 86 of 12 April 2017, if he will seek an answer from An Garda Síochána relating to the cost of all Garda overtime and the overtime hours claimed for each of the years 2012 to 2016, respectively; and the checks in place to ensure gardaí have completed overtime claimed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36663/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I would inform the Deputy that, by letter of 21 April 2017, the Tánaiste provided him with the information sought in Parliamentary Question No. 86 of 12 April 2017. For the assistance of the Deputy, I have set out hereunder the information provided by the Tánaiste in that letter.

"The Garda authorities, however, advise me that Garda Overtime expenditure (excluding civilian overtime costs) in the years 2012 to 2016 is set out in the table below. The associated overtime hours for each of the years in question are also provided.

I understand that overtime is paid to members of An Garda Síochána, up to and including Inspector rank, for additional hours worked during a four week pay roster period. Members complete an overtime claim form for each roster period which is checked and approved locally by their immediate supervisor and then the District Superintendent. Claim forms are checked by the local District Finance Officer to ensure compliance with the Garda Finance Code and details are entered into the Garda electronic payment system which has built in checks and parameters that prevent duplicate and excess claims being paid. An examination of overtime expenditure is included in all regular Divisional audits conducted by the Garda Internal Audit Section.

It should be noted that overtime expenditure in 2015 and 2016 included expenditure relating to:

- the continuation of Operation Thor;

- the commencement of specific operations to combat organised crime;

- security operations at Dublin Port and Rosslare Europort;

- border security operations; and

- various non-recurring activities, including the provision of armed support in the Dublin North Inner City and the establishment of the Dublin Armed Support Unit, and costs arising from the 1916 Centenary celebrations and State visits of Vice-President Biden and Prince Charles.

In June 2016 an additional €55 million was made available to An Garda Síochána by the Government to allow for concentrated policing targeting gang related crime, the continued intensive and strategic targeting of burglaries and related crime, through ongoing support for Operation Thor and the continued support for measures against terrorism."