“Increased Justice budget to secure better policing and major reforms” – Fitzgerald

BUDGET 2015 UPDATE

· Minister welcomes “breakthrough budget” for Justice sector – first year-on year budget increase since 2008 · €141 million increase since budget day last year including 68% rise in capital funding · Minister announces next intake of 200 recruits to Garda College Templemore · €10 million secured for over 400 new Garda vehicles · Comprehensive package of budget increases aimed at funding reforms across the policing and justice sector.   Minister says increased investment in An Garda Síochána marks a positive step forward for policing in Ireland. New vehicles and ongoing recruitment will help ensure a strong, visible policing deterrent is provided in communities right across the country, helping to reduce crime. Frances Fitzgerald TD, Minister for Justice and Equality, has today welcomed the 2015 allocations to the Justice group of votes which will see €2.156 billion being provided for current spending and almost €107 million for capital spending. This represents a total budget increase of €141 million compared with the previously-published 2015 expenditure ceilings announced on budget day last year. This includes a €96 million increase on the current expenditure ceiling and €45 million on the capital envelope. The overall increase to the expenditure ceilings is 6.6% while the capital increase for 2015 represents a 68% rise. Minister Fitzgerald said that: “Today’s allocations represent a breakthrough budget for the justice sector with the first year-on-year budget increase since 2008. “This increased budget will secure better policing across the country and underpin major reforms right across the justice sector.” “The increased investment in An Garda Síochána marks a positive step forward for policing in Ireland. New vehicles and ongoing recruitment will help ensure a strong, visible policing presence is provided in communities right across the country, helping to reduce crime.” 68% increase in capital spending in 2015, including €10 million for 400 new Garda vehicles Minister Fitzgerald today announced that the Government is providing an additional €7 million in 2014 and €3 million in 2015 to allow the procurement and fit-out of approximately 400 new Garda vehicles. The vehicles will begin to come on stream in early 2015. The Minister stated: “This investment demonstrates the commitment of Government to ensuring the ongoing provision of a modern and efficient Garda fleet. There will be particular focus on an increased provision of marked Garda vehicles, to provide an enhanced visible policing presence in communities around the state and to support Gardaí in their efforts to reduce crime.” The Minister added that “both urban and rural communities will benefit in terms of the provision of modern new vehicles for Garda patrol and response.” This will include building on the success of targeted intelligence operations, such as Operation Fiacla by supporting an increased response capacity by Gardaí to burglaries, including rural burglaries being committed by highly mobile gangs. This will be facilitated by the allocation of these new well-equipped vehicles and will re-enforce the engagement between local Gardaí and the communities they serve. Minister Fitzgerald announced a further capital allocation of €42 million in 2015 for the provision of three new Garda Divisional Headquarters in Galway; Kevin Street in Dublin City and Wexford. It is expected that these buildings will be constructed over the next three years. Minister Fitzgerald reaffirmed her commitment to a comprehensive updating of Garda technology. The Minister today announced that an additional €4 million is being made available in both the current year and 2015 for ICT Projects including a necessary information systems upgrade which will provide an essential platform for further system developments. Work is underway to quantify the type of systems and scale of additional investment required and that when this work is advanced the Government will consider further allocations. The Minister also confirmed that €27 million in capital funding, representing an increase of €1 million, is being allocated to the Prisons Service. This will enable the completion of the new Cork Prison and the refurbishment of D-wing in Mountjoy Prison. 200 new recruits to enter Garda College in December and January Minister Fitzgerald welcomed the €40 million increase in the current budget allocation for An Garda Síochána, which reflects a 5% increase in the allocation for Garda payroll compared to budget day last year. The Minister stated: “This funding substantially addresses the underlying payroll shortfall of the Garda vote and will allow me to proceed with my objective of ongoing recruitment of new Gardaí.” The Minister announced two further intakes of recruits to the Garda College in Templemore, the first 100 to take place before the end of this year with a further intake of 100 in January 2015. 100 new recruits already entered Garda College in September 2014 The Minister said she will continue to monitor Garda staffing levels during 2015 with a view to agreeing further intakes to Garda College as required. Funding for reforms Minister Fitzgerald also today announced a comprehensive package of budget increases aimed at funding reforms across the policing and justice sector. Minister Fitzgerald stated: “The Government is committed to delivering a comprehensive Justice Reform Programme aimed at enhancing the administration and oversight of Ireland’s policing services. We will strengthen the role and remit of GSOC while the new independent Policing Authority will provide further public accountability of policing in this country. The funding announced today will help support these important reforms.” “In addition, the allocations to support the set-up of the Legal Service Regulatory Authority; to fund the operation of the newly created Court of Appeal, and to support the recently-established Irish Human Rights & Equality Commission and Charities Regulator all prove this Government’s commitment to real reform.” The package of allocations announced today include: · €500,000 is being allocated to support the establishment of the planned new Policing Authority; · An additional €1 million is being allocated to strengthen the capacity of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC), bringing their total budget to €9 million in 2015; · An additional €250,000 is being allocated to support the work of the Garda Inspectorate; · An additional €500,000 is being allocated to the new Charities Regulatory Authority, bringing their total budget to €1.4 million in 2015; · €500,000 is being allocated for start-up costs of the proposed Legal Services Regulatory Authority; · Increased funding is also being provided for the Property Services Regulatory Authority, bringing its budget to over €1.7 million in 2015; · The costs of the planned referenda in 2015 will also be provided from within the ‘Commissions’ subhead of the Justice and Equality Vote; · An additional €2 million is being allocated in current expenditure funding to the Courts vote as well as the retention in 2015 of a once-off capital allocation of €2 million from 2014. Minister Fitzgerald today confirmed that the recently-established Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission is being given its own dedicated vote, with an allocation of €6.3 million in 2015. The Minister said that the establishment of a stand-alone vote reaffirmed the independence of this new body in line with the ‘Paris Principles’, which are the set of UN rules that govern operation of national human rights institutions. Ends