Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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276. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the estimated amount it would cost in 2019 if the budget for the Garda Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau increased by 12.5%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53272/18]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that the resources provided by Government to An Garda Síochána have reached unprecedented levels, with an allocation for 2019 of €1.76 billion. This represents an increase of over 6% over the initial allocation for 2018.

Very significant capital investment is also being made in An Garda Síochána, including investment of €342 million in Garda ICT infrastructure between 2016 and 2021 to enable; investment of €46 million in the Garda Fleet over the same period; as well as considerable capital investment in addressing the deficiencies in the Garda estate.

These actions are in support of the Government’s commitment to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country, to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and deter crime.

As the Deputy will appreciate, in accordance with Section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, as amended, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for carrying on and managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána. Further, the allocation of Garda resources is a matter for the Commissioner, in light of the availability of resources and his identified operational demands. As Minister I have no direct role in these matters.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the expenditure of the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau in 2017 was € 14,848,315. Taking this level of expenditure as a base, a 12.5% increase would amount to an increase of €1,856,039 or a total expenditure of € 16,704,354.

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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277. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the budget of An Garda Síochána for maintenance and small capital works in 2017 and 2018; the amount allocated for same in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53279/18]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that the resources provided by Government to An Garda Síochána have reached unprecedented levels, with an allocation for 2019 of €1.76 billion. This represents an increase of over 6% over the initial allocation for 2018.

In terms of capital investment, €342 million is being invested in Garda ICT infrastructure between 2016 and 2021 to enable An Garda Síochána to deploy the latest cutting edge technologies and to deliver on reform. €46 million is being made available for investment in the Garda Fleet over the same period, in addition to the investment of almost €30 million in the fleet from 2013 to 2015.

Significant capital investment is also being made in addressing deficiencies in the Garda estate. The Garda Síochána Building and Refurbishment Programme 2016-2021 is an ambitious 5-year programme, based on agreed Garda priorities, involving over €60 million exchequer funding and benefitting over 30 locations around the country. The cell refurbishment programme has already completed works at 80 locations nationwide. And this is in addition to the provision of over €100 million for the development of 3 new Divisional and Regional Headquarters at Wexford, Galway and Dublin (Kevin Street) each of which has now been completed and entered into operational use.

This significant current and capital investment in An Garda Síochána is in support of the Government’s commitment to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country, to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and deter crime.

As the Deputy will be aware, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána. Further, the programme of replacement and refurbishment of Garda accommodation is progressed by the Garda authorities working in close co-operation with the Office of Public Works (OPW). As Minister, I have no direct role in this matter.

Funding for the maintenance of the Garda estate is included in both the Garda Vote and the OPW Vote.

In relation to the information requested by the Deputy, namely the budget in the Garda Vote for maintenance and small capital works, I am informed by the Garda authorities that the allocation and expenditure in the Garda Vote for the years 2017 and 2018 was as follows.