Funding Secured For Additional 800 Garda Officers

Funding has been secured to facilitate the recruitment of an additional 800 gardaí officers and some 500 civilian staff, as part of the Budget 2018.

Announcing the new funding, the Minister for Justice and Equality, Charlie Flanagan, said: "In 2018, we will recruit a further 800 Gardaí and provide for the recruitment of an additional 500 civilians to fill critical skills gaps across the organisation and to facilitate the redeployment of Gardaí from administrative and technical duties to front-line operational duties, keeping the people of Ireland safe and secure.

"There are plans to strengthen the Garda Reserve to deliver on the Government's commitment to visible and responsive policing in communities throughout the country.

"The overall resource package for An Garda Síochána can continue to provide effective community policing and meet the challenges of twenty first century policing including counter-terrorism, organised crime, white collar crime, and so forth. There is also provision to maintain targeted operations, such as Operation Thor, as may be necessary.

"After a lost decade during the economic crash, we are steadily building up capacity in An Garda Síochána. This recruitment is happening at a time of great change in the Force with the Policing Authority now providing continuous hands on oversight of policing.  In this context, I am pleased to allocate an additional €600,000 to the Policing Authority to provide for additional staffing, accommodation and other costs associated with its important work.

"Moreover, I am providing an additional €300,000 to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission to strengthen staffing resources including a new unit established in relation to Protected Disclosures.

"As we steadily build up Garda numbers, we will this year also provide almost €100 million for Garda overtime. This continuing investment has enabled Garda management to establish a number of specialist units in key strategic areas throughout the country. We continue to work to place the organisation on a sound and sustainable footing in the long term."

The Minister highlighted the importance for the Government of projects involving communities and An Garda Síochána working together.

He said: "I am also pleased that it is possible to allocate an additional €100,000 for local crime prevention initiatives including the very effective text alert scheme where crime prevention messages (both general and specific to the area) sent by An Garda Síochána to community groups are disseminated to their members."

Minister Flanagan announced that an additional €157 million has been secured for the Justice sector following the mid-term review of the Government's Capital Plan 2016 – 2021.

He stated: "I am pleased that I have been able to secure additional capital funding to supplement the unprecedented levels of investment in buildings, the Garda fleet and ICT under the Capital Plan. This will provide An Garda Síochána with modern accommodation, vehicles and technology to enable it to provide the standard of policing expected in the 21st century.

"The Government's Capital Plan provides for total investment in Garda capital of over €400 million over the next four years as well as a major Public Private Partnership project to deliver three new Garda Headquarters in Sligo, Macroom and Clonmel.

"The additional funding provided will also enable the completion in early 2018 of the new Garda Headquarters at Kevin Street and Galway. Together with the recently completed Wexford Headquarters, these flagship projects represent an investment of approximately €100 million in the Garda building estate.

"It will also facilitate the development by the OPW of a new flagship building to replace the current Garda DMR HQ in Harcourt Square,

"€6 million has been allocated to provide for Garda vehicles next year.  This continuing level of funding supports An Garda Síochána in taking a strategic approach to the continuous updating of the Garda fleetto ensure that An Garda Síochána has a modern, effective and fit for purpose fleet.  This funding will provide for up to 240 new vehicles next year "In tackling serious crime, I would highlight the vital importance of further funding for work on the Schengen Information System (SIS II) which will enable the rapid dissemination of information pertaining to terrorist threats and other subversive and non-subversive crime types across members states of the European Union. The modern manifestations of terrorism on our continent suggest that terrorists are more mobile than ever before and it is essential that our technology is developed so that we can work efficiently and effectively with our partner states to keep our people safe."

(MH)