Gangland fears as new Garda chief axes overtime Criticism over budget freeze move
GARDAI hunting gangland killers and child sex attackers have been told their budget has been frozen.
A directive was sent to all officers working in Special Crime Operations in which a ban on overtime was announced.
A source said: “The garda budget is €30million in the red and as the Force is spending €8million a month this needs to be reduced by 20%.
“The new Commissioner has come in and is in shock at the lack of funding available and the overspend – he has directed a number of areas to cut critical overtime.
“Gardai in the unit are not happy but they are close to the end of the budget year and this is almost a yearly occurrence at the moment.”
The directive from John
O’driscoll, the Assistant Commissioner in charge of Special Crime Operations, was sent out in recent days.
The Bureau includes specialist gangland hunters the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, child sex abuse investigators Garda National Protective Services Bureau and the Garda Economic Crime Unit among others.
The Garda Representative Association slammed the move.
Spokesman John O’keeffe said: “The GRA now therefore calls on Government to immediately sit down with Commissioner Drew [Harris] to show their bona fidaes in his first weeks in office.
“The agreed overtime must now be reinstated if we are to keep our streets safe in the lead-up to Christmas. Additionally, Government must now,
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with garda management, agree the budgets for the key recommendations outlined in the Commission’s Report into the Future of Policing.”
Mr O’keeffe said members are forced to use overtime to work outside the normal parameters of the shift pattern.
He added: “This is an extraordinary development as overtime is only ever incurred where necessary and must be approved in advanced.
“Where the requirement continues to exist, it is clear evidence of a resourcing issue.
“Overtime is essential if our members are to provide an effective policing service to the general public in Dublin and across the country.”
Drew Harris Responding to criticism Commissioner Harris said the Force must work within the budget provided by Government.
He added: “This has been stressed continually to Garda managers at all levels throughout 2018.
“Regrettably, An Garda Siochana will significantly exceed the budget this year. This is not a sustainable position.
“To minimise the impact on policing and security activity, while reducing the excess spend before the end of the year, I have cut discretionary overtime and administrative overtime.
“Overtime will still be available for specific policing/security operations but only with the approval of the relevant Assistant Commissioner following discussion with Deputy Commissioner, Policing and Security.”
Overtime is essential for members to provide policing effectively JOHN O’KEEFFE