Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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258. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the budget allocation to the Garda national cybercrime unit in each of the years 2017 to 2019; the budget allocation for 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47306/19]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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A record €1.76 billion was allocated to the Garda Vote for 2019 by the Government and this is increasing to an unprecedented €1.88 billion for 2020.

The Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for the management of An Garda Síochána, including the allocation of resources and deployment of personnel.This includes responsibility for operational and organisations issues, such as the establishment and resourcing of individual Garda units. As Minister, I have no responsibility for these matters.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the allocation to the Garda national cyber crime unit for each of the years requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table:

The Garda authorities have advised that the budget allocations for individual Garda Units have not yet been set for 2020.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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259. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the budget allocation to the Garda national economic crime bureau in each of the years 2017 to 2019; the budget allocation for 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47307/19]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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In accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 as amended, the Garda Commissioner has responsibility for management of An Garda Síochána and for the allocation and efficient use of Garda resources.As Minister I have no direct role in these matters. I understand however that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities, to ensure their optimum use.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that the following table sets out the cost of the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau in the years 2017 to 2019, as requested by the Deputy.

*as of 13/11/2019

I am further advised that budget allocations for individual Garda Units for 2020 have not yet been set.

As the Deputy will be aware, a record €1.76 billion was allocated to the Garda Vote for 2019, as well as capital investment amounting to €92 million this year. I am pleased to have secured an overall increase of €122 million to increase An Garda Síochána's budget for 2020 to an unprecedented €1.882 billion for next year.