As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business, including all operational policing matters, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended). The Commissioner is also the Accounting Officer for the Garda Vote under the Act, and is responsible for the economy and the efficiency of the Garda Síochána in using its resources. As Minister, I play no role in these independent functions.
I am advised that information relating to overtime expenditure by An Garda Síochána is publicly available, in the interests of transparency, at the following link:
www.garda.ie/en/information-centre/freedom-of-information/publication-scheme/budgets-and-spending/overtime-reports.html
To be of assistance to the Deputy I have been advised by the Garda authorities that the table below sets out the overtime paid to Garda members for the years 2018 - 2022 and to the end of May 2023 (the latest date for when information is available).
Figures are operational and subject to change.
Year
|
Garda Member Overtime Expenditure
|
2018
|
€117.05m
|
2019
|
€105.90m
|
2020
|
€97.86m*
|
2021
|
€112.52m*
|
2022
|
€127.72m
|
2023
|
€78.76m**
|
*Includes overtime for policing operations related to public health restrictions in place as part of State's response to COVID-19 emergency.
**Figure to 31 May, increased expenditure related to the visit of the President of the United States, Joe Biden.