Sinn Féin TD and Chair of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), John Brady, has today launched the Committee’s latest report examining expenditure, governance and value for money within An Garda Síochána.
The report scrutinises the €2.3 billion in public spending in 2023 and highlights a series of systemic weaknesses that require urgent action.
Speaking after the launch, Teachta Brady said:
“This report makes a series of recommendations to improve financial management and other practices within An Garda Síochána.
“At a time when public confidence and the effective use of resources are critical, it is absolutely vital that swift action is taken to address these issues.
“One of the key recommendations within the report relates to the over €40 million in cash that is being held across the Garda Estate without sufficient oversight.
“The report calls for immediate reforms, including regular monitoring and reporting, as well as exploring the feasibility of lodging seized cash into secure, interest-bearing accounts, similar to the arrangements operated by the Revenue Commissioners.
“These changes would mitigate the risks associated with the high value of cash held, and also ensure that the State is not missing out on potential interest payments.
“The report further highlighted findings from the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) on the cost of policing non-public duty (NPD) events, such as concerts and sporting fixtures.
“There are currently serious deficiencies in how the costs of policing these events are recorded and recovered – raising the very real risk that taxpayers are subsidising commercial activity.
“This absolutely cannot continue.
“Recruitment and retention is another area highlighted within the report.
“A clear, time-bound and sustainable workforce plan is needed to ensure that frontline services are properly resourced – this must include measures to improve recruitment and retention, expand training capacity and maximise the role of civilian staff to free up Gardaí for operational duties.
“Additional recommendations include measures to address repeated underspending, breaches of public financial procedures, the absence of proper reviews of major capital projects, victim dissatisfaction with initial Garda engagement in domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, and Irish language policing in Gaeltacht areas.
“The Committee will be closely monitoring the implementation of all 19 recommendations.”
ENDS