Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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289. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the budget allocation for the Garda National Technical Bureau in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42137/19]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the two bodies responsible for forensics in relation to policing in Ireland are the Garda Síochána National Technical Bureau and Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) which operates under my Department.

The resources provided by Government to An Garda Síochána have reached record levels, with an allocation for 2019 of €1.76 billion. Very significant capital investment is also being made in An Garda Síochána - in total, the Garda capital allocation increased from €61 million to €92 million in 2019, which represents a 50% increase. And I am pleased to have secured a €122 million increase in Budget 2020 to provide An Garda Síochána with an unprecedented budget of €1.882 billion, in addition to a capital allocation of over €116 million.

In accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005, as amended, the Garda Commissioner responsible for the effective and efficient use of the resources available to An Garda Síochána. The Commissioner is also responsible for managing and controlling the administration and business of An Garda Síochána, including the Garda Technical Bureau.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the expenditure of the Garda Technical Bureau for each of the years requested by the Deputy is outlined below: