Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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652. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 204 of 9 April 2025, if the information sought is now available, including the financial supports available to victims of crime and witnesses to cover the costs of travel to court, and for accommodation where they are required to be available to attend court for a period of days; the annual budgetary allocation for these supports; if these supports are available in a consistent manner across the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34366/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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A response to the Deputy's question issued on 20 June as follows:

I refer to your Parliamentary Question No. 204 of 9 April 2025 in relation to the financial supports available to victims of crime and witnesses to cover the costs of travel to court and for accommodation where they are required to be available to attend court for a period of days, the annual budgetary allocation for these supports, and if these supports are available in a consistent manner across the state.

As you will recall, the specific information you requested was not readily available at that time and I requested the information from the Garcia authorities with a view to responding to you as soon as possible.

I am informed by the Garcia authorities that as per the revised estimates for Public Services 2025 as distributed by the Department of Public Expenditure, NOP Delivery and Reform, Vote 20 pertains to the allocation for An Garda Síochána. Under subhead A.9 covering witness expenses, the total budget is €2.155m.

This budget covers several areas including expenses for expert / professional witnesses, expenses for lay witnesses and professional reports. I am informed that as the budget is not broken down further it is not possible to confirm the budget allocation for travel and accommodation costs for victims of crime and witnesses.

An Garda Síochána is responsible for ensuring that the expenses incurred by all categories of witnesses are covered. This is the cost of coming to court to give evidence. These expenses may include the cost of taking time off work, travelling expenses, meals, and accommodation if the witness lives in another part of the country. There are a range of financial supports available based on the needs of the witness, some of these are listed below.

Civilian/lay witness expenses are paid according to the circumstances of the individual. Self-employed persons claim for loss of time certified by their accountant. Salary or wage earners claim the actual amount certified by employer as permanently lost by reason of attendance at court. Individuals who do not earn an income can claim €22 for 4 hours or more and €11 for less than 4 hours.

All claims for public transport are supported by receipts. Mileage can be claimed at €0.37 per kilometre for lay witnesses, while serving civil servants claim mileage at the current rate applicable to Class A.

Hotel accommodation is available to a maximum of €82 supported by receipts.

Additionally, the Internal Travel Bureau of An Garda Síochána book and pay for hotel accommodation for witnesses attending the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin. For all courts outside Dublin the witness hotel accommodation is arranged through the local District Office. The Bureau also arranges and pays for foreign witness flights.

Subsistence allowance for meals, is available at a daily rate of €11 for 5 hours but not exceeding 10 hours and a daily rate of €17 if the hours exceed 10 hours.

My Department developed a Victims Charter and a supporting website which sets out all the information a victim of crime might need in an easily accessible and user friendly way. Importantly, the charter outlines the role of An Garda Síochána in supporting victims of crime - www.gov.ie/en/victims-charter/publications/an-garda-s%c3%adoch%c3%a1na/.

The charter also sets out information on the services offered by the State as well as voluntary groups who work with victims of crime. It outlines how to get in touch with those services and what supports they can offer to victims. This is available at www.gov.ie/en/victims-charter/collections/support-and-reporting/#what-support-is-available-to-victims-of-crime.

Lastly, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions publishes a guide for witness that includes a section on financial supports available. This can be found at