Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Alan Shatter TD, today announced that the gross budget for the Justice Sector in 2014 will be close to €2.16 billion. This comprises almost €2.1 billion in current expenditure and €61.6 million in capital expenditure.
Important points to note:
· Targeted objective Garda strength to be maintained at 13,000
· Additional €9m investment in Garda Fleet
· Garda recruitment to recommence in 2014
· €26 million will be provided for the Prisons Building and Refurbishment Programme in 2014
· Construction of Cork Prison expected to commence in December 2013
· Allowance paid to members of Garda Reserve to be exempt from taxation
Speaking on the announcement of the Budget, Minister Shatter said, “At a time when very difficult economic decisions still have to be made, I am glad to say that, despite a reduction of just under €70m, I have managed to secure €2.16 billion for the Justice Sector for 2014. This is the maximum possible amount available to ensure that this Department can continue to contribute to the objective of economic recovery by securing a safer, fairer Ireland for us all.
The Minister added “Our current expenditure funding of just under €2.1 billion for 2014 is €137m more than the previous government had allocated under their National Recovery Plan 2011-2014 and brings to more than €400m the additional funding I have secured over and above the amounts allocated by Fianna Fail in their so called National Recovery Plan.”
Minister Shatter is acutely aware that the Justice Sector, in line with other sectors, has taken very significant budget reductions in recent years and he continued, “The Department of Justice is playing its part in reducing public expenditure and correcting our public finances. In this context, we have contributed some €270m in current expenditure and €40m in capital over the past four years, while at the same time, we have ensured that, by carefully managing and prioritising the resources available, we have used them to best effect for the benefit of a society that needs and deserves a strong and resilient justice sector”.
An Garda Síochána
The budget for An Garda Síochána, at €1.34 billion, is more than 62% of the entire Justice Sector budget allocation.
Minister Shatter continued “In common with all public sector organisations, An Garda Síochána have had to operate within the financial constraints we all face as a nation. Nevertheless, it is appropriate that substantial resources continue to be made available, which the Garda Commissioner is deploying in a targeted fashion to confront criminals and protect our communities. In this context, great credit is due to the Commissioner, his senior management team and all members of the Force who, on a daily basis, are on the frontline making this country a safer place for all of us.
“The success of this approach can be seen in the independently verified, official crime statistics from the Central Statistics Office. These have been falling steadily, with the most recent figures for the 12 months to the end of June showing a decrease of over 20,000 offences, an overall reduction of 8%.
“The number of burglaries recorded has fallen by 8.9%, reflecting the sustained Garda drive against burglary, which is the key objective of Operation Fiacla. 6,678 persons have been arrested and 3,770 charged under this operation (to the end of September), which is very effectively targeting gangs involved in burglaries around the country.
“While the challenges posed by criminal terrorism, gangland and organised crime remain clear to all, An Garda Síochána, week in week out, are making arrests and bringing persons before the Courts, with substantial sentences handed down in many instances. Between 2011 and to date in 2013, the Gardaí and Revenue Commissioners seized drugs valued at over €220m. They also seized 2.75 million litres of fuel, 27 fuel laundries were detected and 106 filling stations closed because they were unlicensed or in breach of licensing conditions. Over 240 million cigarettes with a retail value of €106m have been seized, and over 20,000 kgs of tobacco with a retail value of €7.38m.”
Minister Shatter said that “I am particularly pleased that the targeted objective Garda strength can now be maintained at 13,000 members. I recently announced that sanction has been obtained for a recruitment competition for the Garda Síochána, which will commence in the coming weeks, and will see new student Gardaí entering the Garda College in Templemore in 2014 - the first since the previous Government stopped recruitment in 2009.”
The Minister also stated that “In tandem with the maintenance of Garda strength, it is also important to maintain the management and supervisory capacity of the Force. Since the Government took office, I have obtained sanction from my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, for a significant number of derogations from the moratorium on appointments. In total, in the last two and half years, 88 Sergeant; 40 Inspector; 53 Superintendent; 17 Chief Superintendent; 4 Assistant Commissioner; and 1 Deputy Commissioner appointments have been made.”
“I am also pleased to have obtained the agreement of my colleague, the Minister for Finance, that the payment of the expense allowance to members of the Garda Reserve should be exempt from taxation. We are very proud of our Garda Reserve members who give of their time and services on a voluntary basis. It is only right that the allowance which they receive to cover expenses should not be subject to tax.”
Garda Transport
Mobility and flexibility are key elements in the capacity of the Garda Síochána to combat shifting patterns of crime. Central to this is the maintenance of an adequate transport fleet. It is clear that there are continuing pressures on the fleet, especially with strict safety rules requiring the disposal of high-mileage Garda vehicles.
The Minister stated “I am also particularly pleased to have secured a further €9m for the purchase of new vehicles for the Garda fleet over the next nine months. €5m of this will be made available between now and the end of this year. This will bring to €18m the total amount spent on the Garda fleet in the three years 2012 to 2014. This compares to a total of less than €5m spent by Fianna Fail in the previous three years 2009 to 2011, and represents an increase of 260%”
Justice Sector Capital Infrastructure
The capital allocation for 2014 is broadly on a par with 2013, showing an increase of €1 million. This expenditure is being put to good use in developing the necessary physical and technological infrastructure across the sector.
Over €26 million will be provided for the Prisons Building and Refurbishment Programme in 2014. This not only provides for essential modernisation and upgrade of our prisons but also contributes to the creation of additional jobs in the construction industry. A number of key projects have been targeted. In Cork, the aim is that the construction of the new prison will commence in December with the works completed and ready for occupation in the first half of 2016. Initial tenders have issued for the refurbishment in Limerick Prison, including the provision of modern cellular accommodation. Construction is expected to commence during the first half of 2014 with substantial completion of the project expected in mid 2016.
The Minister also commented that “There are a number of very important capital projects being developed using the Public Private Partnership model, as part of the Infrastructural Stimulus Package. These include seven new or refurbished courthouses at Wexford, Cork, Letterkenny, Drogheda Waterford, Limerick and Mullingar, as well as three new Garda Divisional Head Quarters at Wexford, Galway and Kevin Street in Dublin. These projects are progressing well and are on track for completion in early 2017. The overall value of the projects will be in the region of €190m."
The Minister commented that “While the Justice Sector has taken its share of reductions in recent years as we work to restore the nation’s fiscal sovereignty, I am very proud of what continues to be achieved across the sector, despite the reduced resources. I will continue to fund front-line services to the greatest extent possible and I am very pleased that funding can be maintained for areas such as the Forensic Science Laboratory and the Criminal Assets Bureau, which play a central role in supporting Gardaí in the fight against organised and other serious crime”.
Minister Shatter concluded by saying, ”While it is very early days yet to be talking about a financial recovery, there are definitely positive signs, including within the Justice sector; the maintenance of the targeted objective Garda strength at 13,000; substantial investment in the Garda fleet; the commencement of a Garda recruitment campaign which will bring in the first recruits since 2009; building programmes in relation to An Garda Siochana, Courts and Prisons, through the PPP model and direct investment are advancing; and the reform initiatives continue to deliver across the sector. None of this could have been achieved if, as Minister for Justice and Equality, I had to cope with over €400m of further cuts which would have been imposed under Fianna Fail’s so called National Recovery Plan 2011-14. There is some way to go
yet but I think we can look to the future with renewed vigor and confidence.”
15 October 2013