Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

451. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if the 2023 transport budget for An Garda Síochána has been fully spent; if not, if the underspend 2023 transport budget for AGS was carried out into 2024; and the transport budget allocation tor AGS in 2024. [17806/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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.

We have allocated record amounts to the Garda Vote in recent years, with over €2.35 billion allocated for 2024, up 25 per cent since 2020 which is allowing for sustained and ongoing recruitment and investment in new equipment and new vehicles.

I have also recently secured additional capital funding of €93 million under the National Development Plan (NDP) for Justice projects in 2024 to 2026. This brings the total capital allocation available for the Justice sector between now and 2026 to €930 million.

This funding will be used across the Justice sector, together with a reallocation of existing funding, to address a number of key priorities, including further increasing prison capacity, opening new Garda stations and delivering key technology projects for An Garda Síochána.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that at the end March 2024 there were 3,513 vehicles attached to the Garda fleet. This represents an increase of almost 13% since the end of December 2020. The Garda fleet is now at its largest ever level.

I can inform the Deputy that €30.5 million was allocated against the Transport Subhead of the Garda Vote in 2023. An Garda Síochána was also provided with an additional €1.75 million as part of the Supplementary Estimates process along with a further €4.4 million in November towards the purchase of additional Garda vehicles. Spend in 2023 amounted to €36.4 million, which is more than €5 million over the original budget allocation.

I can also confirm to the Deputy that the 2024 allocation for the same Subhead is €31.3 million, which is an increase of over €0.7 million on the original €30.5 million 2023 allocation.