This article is from page 8 of the 2006-10-31 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 8 JPG
THE Garda overtime bill for County Clare for 2006 has amounted to €1.4 million – a rise of €200,000 on the bill for 2005.
According to statistics provided by the Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, the annual cost of policing the county has now risen to €14 million.
In response to a Dáil question from Green Party leader, Trevor Sargent, Minister McDowell confirmed that numbers in the Clare Garda Division had risen from 219 at the end of 1997 to 318 to October 12 this year.
He said, “This represents an increase of 99 (or 45 per cent) in the number of personnel allocated to the Clare Division since 31 December, 1997 and an increase of 59 (or 23 per cent) in the number of personnel allocated since 31 December, 2004.”
The figures also show that since the start of the year, numbers in the Clare Garda Division have risen from 261 to 318 – a rise of 57.
In the breakdown of the overtime figures, Minister McDowell said that the overtime bill for 2004 was €1 million and this increased to €1.2 million in 2005.
However, due mainly to the enhanced security operation at Shannon Airport, the overtime bill to October 12 this year was at €1.4 million.
The figures show that €12 million has been paid out in salaries this year, compared to the €14 million for the entire of 2005.
Minister McDowell said, “It is the responsibility of Garda management to allocate personnel to and within divisions on a priority basis in accordance with the requirements of different areas.
“These personnel allocations are determined by a number of factors including demographics, crime trends, administrative functions and other operational policing needs. Garda management state that such allocations are continually monitored and reviewed along with overall policing arrangements and operational strategy. This ensures that optimum use is made of Garda resources, and that the best possible service is provided to the public.”
Pointing out that the Government was engaged on a recruitment drive to bolster Garda numbers to 14,000, Minister McDowell said, “The Garda Commissioner will now be drawing up plans on how best to distribute and manage these additional resources and, in this context, the needs of the Clare Division will be given the fullest consideration.”