Funds to get gardai back on the street
YESTERDAY’S budget saw almost €4.5 billion allocated to policing, prisons and defence.
Justice Minister Helen McEntee secured €3.3 bn — while Simon Coveney got €1.17 bn for Defence.
The Justice budget, which is an increase of five per cent, includes some €2.14 bn for policing.
Measures include the recruitment of 1,000 gardai – which should bring the force to around 14,700 members.
There will also be more than 400 civilians – called Garda staff – recruited, which the minister says will help get officers out from behind desks.
The force will also be given funds to buy a new plane – to replace the 25-year-old Britten Defender.
That plane is heavily used in surveillance operations against crime gangs.
An extra €9m is to be spend on tackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.
And gardai will also be given an extra €5m in overtime – to get more officers on the streets.
The Prison Service will also get 100 new officers and the state will allocate another €9m to help refugees fleeing Ukraine.
And the Community Safety Innovation Fund – which takes cash seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau and invests it all over Ireland – will get another €3m.
Minister McEntee said last night the budget would help make Irish people safer.
She said: “Today’s Budget is a clear commitment to building stronger, safer communities; supporting and strengthening An Garda Síochána and also towards supporting victims of crime and Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence.
“High visibility policing is crucial to making sure that communities across the country are safe and feel safe.”
And Minister Coveney welcomed the €1.17bn — which includes €3m to kickstart a re-equipment plan. It includes ground radar, new armour, helicopters, heavy lift plane and two ships.
Money has also been allocated to improve pay and work conditions.