A Cheann Comhairle 

I welcome the opportunity to appear before the Committee as it considers the Estimates for my Department's group of Votes. The five Votes in question comprise more than one hundred subheads covering capital, pay and programme spending across a wide range of fields. 

Taken together, the five Votes amount to a total provision of more than 2.1 billion Euro, a 9% increase over 2005 and 35% over 2002, reflecting my commitment and that of the Government to the development of services in the justice and equality area. With each set of Estimates that I have presented to this Committee we have built on the investment of the preceding years and a series of vital projects and programmes have moved from planning stage through to implementation. The Justice Estimates for 2006 illustrate the Government's continued commitment to build on the progress already achieved.

There is probably no clearer indication of the Government's commitment to investing in the criminal justice system than the 2006 budget for the Garda Síochána, which now exceeds 1.310 billion Euro, in gross terms. This is more than double the budget in 1997.  It might not suit the rhetoric of some, but it must surely now be accepted that the Garda Síochána has never in its history been better resourced - in terms of manpower, equipment or other facilities. 

In that regard I would like to remind the Committee of my 14 Point Anti-Crime Programme for 2006 which I was pleased to announce at the publication of the Justice Estimates in November 2005. A record 1.310 billion Euro, in gross terms, is being provided to underpin this programme - an increase of close to 170 million Euro or 15% when compared to 2005.

The 14 key elements of the new programme are:

1. The continued recruitment of 2,000 Gardaí throughout 2006.
2. An increase of 23 million Euro in respect of Garda overtime compared to the 2005 provision.
3. The continued funding, and expansion, of 'Operation Anvil'.
4. The new Garda Reserve Force.
5. An increase of 3.8 million Euro in respect of Garda Transport.
6. A 25% increase in funding in respect of state-of-the-art Digital Radio for the Gardaí.
7. Extension of 'Operation Encounter' s part of the Visible Community Patrolling Initiative.
8. Increase in membership of the Garda Traffic Corps throughout 2006.
9. Accelerated Civilianisation Programme in order to free up Gardaí for outdoor frontline policing duties.
10. The establishment of Joint Policing Committees.
11. Anti-Graffiti and Anti-Vandalism Campaign.
12. Increased funding of Youth Diversion Schemes.
13. New drive on CCTV installation.
14. Provision for additional Garda Capital Projects.

If you turn to the overtime allocation in particular, you will see that the budget has risen to 83.5m Euro which represents an increase of more than 36% over the 2005 figure.  This budget will yield 2.725 million extra police hours from uniformed and special units throughout the State. The Garda Commissioner's advice to me is that this will enable the Force to implement targeted, intelligence driven and high intensity operations against organised crime, with a special focus on drug crime. Combined with the continued recruitment of 2,000 additional Gardaí, these resources will deliver exactly what the public want and deserve - high visibility policing in communities throughout the State.

Significant capital projects are also enabled by these Estimates, notably the new digital radio network, the IT driven major criminal investigation system, the Schengen Computer System and the purchase of a new Garda helicopter.

My approach to policing issues has always been about more than resources alone, however, and I attach great importance to the development of a real partnership between the Garda Síochána and the communities they serve. My intention and that of the Oireachtas, as set out in the Garda Síochána Act 2005, is that joint policing committees and local policing fora will provide arenas where the Garda Síochána and local authorities can co-operate and work together to address local policing and other issues.

I am currently consulting my colleagues the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and the Garda Síochána, on guidelines under which the joint policing committees would operate. My view is that the best way forward is initially to establish a small number of committees on a pilot basis which will give us an opportunity to identify any teething problems that might arise in practice. Any such problems can then be addressed before the joint policing committees are launched in the over one hundred local authorities throughout the country. I hope to be in a position to make a further announcement about my proposals in this area in the near future.

As the Committee will be well aware, the Garda Síochána Act 2005 also provides for the establishment of a Garda Reserve. I genuinely believe that the Garda Reserve will reinforce the links between the Garda Síochána and local communities, and that it will enhance the capacity of the Force to respond to emerging policing challenges. I have seen for myself how well special constabularies, which are broadly equivalent to the Reserve, work in Britain, and how good and effective are the relations between them and the regular police forces. This is a great opportunity to enhance the policing service and increase the capacity of the Garda Síochána to combat crime and disorder, and provide the public with the security and safety they rightly demand. 

The proposals drawn up by the Commissioner envisage a thoroughly-trained Reserve with carefully selected powers and duties, working under the supervision of members of the Garda Síochána.  The initial duties of a Reserve Garda will include road traffic checkpoint duties, accompanied by a full time member. I have met each of the Garda Representative Associations to discuss the Commissioner's proposals and further discussions will be held with the Associations under the Garda Conciliation Scheme. I also intend to present the necessary Regulations in draft form to this Committee for its consideration.

With the same focus on community interests and needs, the 2006 budget also includes 6.6 million Euro for Garda Youth Diversion and Local Drugs Task Force projects as well as funding for an innovative anti-graffiti campaign and a new drive on CCTV installation

On the Prisons Vote, you will note that the allocation for 2006 is down on 2005, which is in large part due to the once-off 29.9m Euro cost in 2005 of acquiring the new prison site at Thornton.

I am proceeding apace in 2006 with this project, as with all other elements of the Prisons Building Programme. An EU Tender competition commenced in February 2006 to pre-qualify consortia looking to build the new complex and it is planned to announce the short-listed bidders shortly.   The full tender process will commence in July 2006 with contract award scheduled for the first quarter of 2007.   I have also announced my plans to develop a facility at Spike Island.   The primary driver behind these developments is the need to provide a modern prison estate that will service the State into the future.  The provision of single cell accommodation, along with the elimination of the practice of slopping out is something that I am totally committed to as I have outlined on numerous occasions in the past.

On the pay side of the equation, following acceptance by prison staff of the Proposal for Organisational Change in August, 2005, the Prison Service moved immediately to progress implementation of the agreed deal.  This deal vindicates the Government's determination to bring to an end the damaging and unsustainable overtime culture amongst prison staff.   Overtime working, which peaked in 2002 at 2.1 million hours at a cost to the taxpayer of 59.3m Euro, has now been replaced with the new additional hours attendance system.  The new system effectively caps resort to extra attendance, reducing it by more than half the 2002 level and bringing about significant savings to the exchequer.

Initially, four prisons switched to the new Additional Hours system in November, 2005 and the remaining prisons during the first six weeks of 2006.  In addition, new rosters are in place, new technology has been introduced, a dedicated Escort Corps has been established, the recruitment of a new entry level Recruit Prison Officer with modified conditions of service is well underway and the restructuring of the Stores and Maintenance functional areas is also well advanced.  These are major developments in the Prison Service and reflect full constructive engagement of management and staff in the delivery of the agreed change programme. 

While they are already substantially in place, it is too early to assess the full savings impact of the new working arrangements on 2006 expenditure.  Full savings of up to 25m Euro per annum have, however, been estimated once the lump sum compensation elements are completed after the 3rd year of this deal, at which stage transitional and other costs will have been minimised.

I am also extremely pleased to have been able to increase funding for the Courts Service by a dramatic 23% in 2006 to more than 85m Euro.
 
Very significantly, almost 20m Euro is being provided to enable the Courts Service to continue its ambitious nationwide programme of Courthouse renovation and refurbishment.  Ten major projects are either underway or will commence in 2006.

The tendering and procurement process for the new PPP Criminal Court Complex in Parkgate Street has commenced and construction work on the project will begin within the next year. The complex will be developed in accordance with "best practice" gleaned from similar projects in the UK and Northern Ireland and will mean that for the first time, the administration of justice will be separated into two streams; i.e. Civil Courts in the Four Courts complex and Criminal Courts in the new PPP facility.

I have also given approval to the Court Service to progress nine "greenfield" court projects, by way of PPP, as part of a new envelope of 50m Euro for such projects to be expended on behalf of the Agency over the next 2 years.  These include full District and Circuit Court services for the Greater Dublin area and in North Kildare.  They also include similar court service projects in a number of other locations on the Eastern Seaboard, in the North-West, the South-East and the South-West.  The new investment methodology to be used by the Courts Service will be a "bundling" of projects allowing flexibility to the marketplace to bid for group or individual schemes, generating best value for the tax payer and early delivery.

These building projects are complemented by investment in other modernisation initiatives such as a Civil Case Management IT system, the delivery of court services by electronic means and courtroom technology upgrades. 

It is, of course, also important that the development of policy in relation to the courts occurs in conjunction with and as part of overall policy on the criminal justice system. To this end links are being strengthened between the courts and the other criminal justice agencies to promote a common purpose and ensure the efficient exchange of necessary information.

On Vote 23 for the Land Registry and Registry of Deeds, the budget is 41.15m Euro, an increase of 8.2% on the Estimate for 2005.

The Land Registry has responded dynamically to the increased demands arising from the buoyancy of the property market and has in fact increased its productivity by 111% between 2000 and 2005.  This has been achieved through investment in technology and the co-operation of staff in a radical modernisation programme.  For a number of years the Land Registry struggled to cope with ever-increasing intakes of work and mounting arrears.  I am pleased to say that the tide has now turned and progress is being made in clearing the backlog of cases that had accumulated.

The next phase of this modernisation is being delivered with the implementation of the digital mapping project.  With effect from 28 April last, the existing and very successful on-line service has been expanded so that it now provides access to the Registry's maps over the internet.  A further phase, involving the conversion of all registered boundaries into computerised format is underway and will put the organisation at the forefront of land registration developments internationally. 

Progress with the modernisation programme will be further strengthened by the recent enactment of the Registration of Deeds and Title Act, 2006.  As the Committee is aware, this Act updates the legislation governing the Land Registry and Registry of Deeds and also establishes the Property Registration Authority, which will now be charged with moving this programme ahead and paving the way for electronic conveyancing.

Turning finally to my Department's own Vote, a quick scan down the headings gives a good sense of the breadth and depth of programme activity underway.   Time does not permit me to list them all here so I will simply mention a few items which I believe will be of particular interest in the Committee.

Funding has been provided for the new Youth Justice Service which was established as an executive office of my Department following a Government decision in December 2005.  The 2006 allocation will provide for the initial costs involved in the establishment of the Service and some preparatory work in the areas of community sanctions and detention.  A more significant allocation will transfer into this subhead in 2007 from the Department of Education and Science when my Department assumes responsibility for children detention schools from that Department.

Funding is also provided in my Department's Vote for a number of other significant institutional developments, including the establishment of the  Office of the Garda Inspectorate and the Garda Ombudsman Commission as well as for the creation of the Property Services Authority on an interim basis. 

Measures to promote equality also continue to feature prominently in the Department's Vote.   The National Action Plan Against Racism (NPAR) receives funding of 1 million Euro per annum for each year of the life of the Plan from 2005 to 2008 and 1.87 million Euro has been allocated to Traveller related activities within my Department.  This includes 1.3 million Euro for the development of a county based interagency strategy for the delivery and co-ordination of Traveller related services nationally, as recommended in the recent report of the High Level Group on Travellers.

The investment in the asylum and immigration systems in recent years has very clearly yielded results and an additional 15m Euro is being provided across the system for 2006.  This will enable the newly established INIS to bring forward its programme of enhancements to the visa and general immigration areas and also to bolster the progress made in dramatically reducing processing times in the asylum system.  Part of this programme incorporates a major IT enhancement project designed to substantially improve service provision across the fields of asylum, immigration and citizenship and which should be in place by early 2008.

Proposals are also being developed for significantly increased expenditure on integration-related activities, aimed at the new non-national communities.    I regard these proposals, which will involve funding in the order of 5 million Euro as a major public policy imperative

Before concluding I feel that that I should draw the Committee's attention to the Government's decentralisation initiative. The decentralisation programme for my Department is an ambitious one, involving almost 1,000 posts from a number of agencies moving to seven different locations in Longford, Roscommon, Navan, Portarlington, Roscrea, Thurles and Tipperary.  To date, almost 100 staff have been assigned to the Irish Prison Service, of which just over 50 are already in situ and the new headquarters in Longford is expected to be ready for occupation in early 2007.  The Private Security Authority is open for business in Tipperary and the Garda Central Vetting Unit is up and running in Thurles.  The Fixed Charge Processing Unit will also move from Dublin later this year, bringing the total numbers in Thurles to over 100.  The advance move of the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner to Portarlington will take place in the autumn, involving 22 posts.  To date, over 230 staff have been assigned to this Department's decentralised locations. Decentralisation costs in respect of property solutions are a matter for the Office of Public Works and form the bulk of the costs for the overall programme. However, the sale of office accommodation occupied by Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform staff in Dublin has realised over 152 million Euro - a significant multiple of the overall cost of decentralisation for the Justice and Equality family.

There is so much more being achieved across the justice and equality sector but time does not permit me to draw attention to each activity. The financial resources provided by the Government for the Justice and Equality sector are significant; in fact in current spending terms in the region of 6% of all voted expenditure is for the sector. This is the clearest indication of the very high priority the Government attaches to resourcing the criminal justice system, to building a safer and more equal society and to ensuring that we meet our international commitments in the field of asylum and immigration.

I will conclude on this point by thanking the Committee for its attention and am happy to answer any questions that arise.  

17 May 2006