Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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211. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the transport budget allocation to An Garda Síochána in 2022 and 2023; and the expected transport budget that is being provided to An Garda Síochána in 2024. [45419/23]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, funding for An Garda Síochána is provided through Vote 20, the Garda Vote and is not accounted under my Department's Vote. The Garda Commissioner is the Accounting Officer for the Garda Vote under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) and is accountable for the economy and the efficiency of the Garda Síochána in using its resources. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.

I can however assure the Deputy the Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and a strengthened, well-resourced Garda Síochána is central to this Policy. This commitment is demonstrated by the unprecedented provision of €2.31 billion to the Garda Vote for 2024, up 23 per cent since 2020, which is allowing for sustained and ongoing recruitment and investment in new equipment and new vehicles.

The 2024 budget includes provision for:

• Recruitment of between 800 and 1,000 new Garda recruits and 250 additional Garda staff.
• 25% increase in the overtime budget for An Garda Síochána – to €131m from €105m - for high visibility policing to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour.
• Supporting Garda recruitment with 66% increase in training allowance which rises to €305 per week.
• €6m provided for Garda well-being initiatives, additional medical costs and over 2,500 units of body armour.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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212. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the estimated full year cost in 2024 if 30 extra WTE digital forensic examiners engineering grade 3 were recruited to An Garda Síochána. [45421/23]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including for the recruitment, training and deployment of Garda members and staff. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.

The Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities – and strengthening An Garda Síochána is at the core of that. We will continue to provide An Garda Síochána with the resources it needs to ensure communities around Ireland are safe and feel safe. This is reflected in the unprecedented allocation of €2.31 billion in Budget 2024, up 23% since 2020, demonstrating our commitment to ensuring the organisation has provision for the equipment, technology, facilities, fleet and personnel it needs to carry out vital policing work.

The Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau (GNCCB) provides for top tier digital forensic services to support organisational investigations.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that the estimated full year payroll cost of recruiting 30 WTE digital forensic examiners at engineering grade 3 level is approximately €1.2million (€40,000 per person).

The costing assumes that the staff are placed on the first point of the current engineer grade 3 pay scale. Employer’s PRSI is also included at a rate of 11.05%.