Justice budget down €70m but Garda recruitment to resume

Garda recruitment will resume next year, with the Government committing to retaining the strength of the force at 13,000.

The Department of Justice’s overall budget will be close to €2.16 billion, a reduction of just under €70 million. However, it will receive additional funding to increase staff for the Garda Vetting Bureau and add to the Garda fleet.

The justice budget comprises almost €2.1 billion in current spending and €61.6 million in capital expenditure.

Commenting on the figures, Minister for Justice Alan Shatter said that, at a time when "very difficult economic decisions still have to be made", he was glad to secure €2.16 billion for the justice sector. "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," he said.

The capital allocation for 2014 is broadly on a par with 2013, increasing by €1 million. More than €26 million will be provided for the Prisons Building and Refurbishment Programme in 2014.

Mr Shatter said his aim was that construction of the new prison in Cork would begin in December, with the works to be completed and ready for occupation in the first half of 2016.

By far the largest share of the justice budget is accounted for by An Garda Síochána, at €1.34 billion, or 62 per cent of the total.

Mr Shatter said he was “particularly pleased” that the targeted objective Garda strength could be maintained at 13,000 members. A new recruitment round will begin in the coming weeks, which will see new student gardaí enter the Garda College in Templemore for the first time since the previous Government stopped recruitment in 2009.

Among the other measures announced today is a pledge that payment of the expense allowance to members of the Garda Reserve should be exempt from taxation.

A further €9 million is to be made available for the purchase of new vehicles for the Garda fleet over the next nine months.