Law Society praise for highest-ever budgetary allocation to justice sector
The Law Society has welcomed a record level of funding announced today for the justice sector, which it says will preserve access to justice during the pandemic and enable the courts system to take advantage of modern technology.
Commenting on the measures announced by Ministers Donohoe and McGrath, Law Society President Michele O鈥橞oyle said: 鈥淭he allocation of 鈧3 billion to the justice sector is very welcome and, critically, it will go a long way towards preserving access to justice in these difficult times.鈥
鈥淭he Law Society has long advocated for significant investment in digital and ICT capabilities, particularly in the courts system. The complexities of operating during the pandemic accelerated the urgency of this issue,鈥 said President O鈥橞oyle.
鈥淚 particularly welcome the announcement of a total gross allocation of 鈧158.8 million for the courts system, with 鈧8 million specifically directed towards a much needed and long-awaited Courts Modernisation Programme.鈥
Priority issues
President O鈥橞oyle continued: 鈥淥ther Law Society priority issues, such as Criminal Legal Aid and the Legal Aid Board, have also been recognised in today鈥檚 Budget.
鈥淎n additional 鈧3.7 million and 鈧2 million, respectively, for these vital programmes will have an important, positive impact on preserving access to justice.鈥
Minister for Justice and Equality, Helen McEntee has welcomed the highest ever budgetary allocation for the justice sector.
The record 鈧3 billion allocation for 2021 will fund:
- The recruitment of extra Garda铆 and Garda staff,
- The reform and upgrade of digital infrastructure across the justice sector,
- The Courts Service modernisation programme, as well as wider changes across the sector.
In addition to the 2021 Budget allocation, Minister McEntee is also in discussions with the Minister for Public Expenditure on securing additional funding to allow An Garda S铆och谩na to immediately increase their fleet of vehicles, fund overtime, and buy extra PPE and other equipment to help with COVID-19 and wider policing.
A total of 70 new cars will help An Garda S铆och谩na to replace some cars hired for COVID use with permanent additions to the Garda fleet. These will be funded by a supplementary estimate for 2020.
Tackling violence
The minister also said she was pleased to announce extra funding to tackle domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.
This includes an allocation for the implementation of the recommendations of the O鈥橫alley Report on Protections for Vulnerable Witnesses in the Investigation and Prosecution of Sexual Offences
The 鈧3 billion allocation for 2021 includes:
- Up to 620 new Garda recruits and 500 Garda staff, who will help free up more Garda铆 for frontline duties,
- 鈧42 million to modernise the justice sector through increased digital and ICT investment, including 鈧8 million for the Courts Modernisation Programme and 鈧5 million for the Department of Justice ICT strategy,
- 鈧27 million for COVID-related measures,
- An extra 鈧10 million in capital expenditure and 鈧4.4 million in current expenditure for Forensic Science Ireland,
- 鈧2.7 million in increased funding to combat domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, as well as support for victims,
- An extra 鈧2 million to fund additional staffing for the Data Protection Commission and help it achieve its goal of having well in excess of 200 staff by the end of 2021,
- An overall increase of 鈧147 million in current expenditure and 鈧51 million capital funding in the Justice sector, bringing the total justice increase for Budget 2021 to almost 鈧200 million.
James Browne, the Minister of State for Law Reform, welcomed the additional budget funding to support his priorities such as youth justice programmes and the establishment of the Office of the Gambling Regulator.
Scourge
Minister Browne said: 鈥淎s a way of tackling and reducing the scourge of anti-social behaviour in our cities, towns and villages, I welcome the increase of 鈧500,000 in Budget 2021 for youth justice interventions, bringing the total allocation for these measures to almost 鈧18million.
鈥淭his is incredibly important work and I鈥檓 delighted to see it being supported, as research indicates that early intervention is crucial in helping young people to turn away from a life of crime.鈥
Minister McEntee said 鈥淲e must continue to properly fund our frontline services in the justice sector as they serve the public throughout the pandemic. Our frontline workers must feel safe themselves while they work to keep us safe.鈥
COVID funding for 2021 will cover:
- 鈧13 million for PPE for An Garda S铆och谩na,
- 鈧5.7 million for increased PPE, cleaning and healthcare costs for the Irish Prison Service,
- 鈧5.7 million for the Courts Service, including for additional premises in Dublin and regional locations to enable court sittings to take place in a socially distanced and safe environment,
- 鈧0.4 million extra funding for organisations and groups responding to increased service demands from people impacted by domestic abuse.
- The additional 鈧400,000 for 2021 will provide extra remote counselling services, and help keep helplines open, as well as welfare packs and other practical supports for those most vulnerable.
Modernisation
Minister McEntee said: 鈥淒riving the modernisation and digital agenda across the justice sector to ensure that our services are efficient and easily accessible to all who need them is a key priority for me as Minister for Justice.
鈥淣ew funding of 鈧42 million builds on previous investment. This prioritisation of technology and modernisation will lead to a significant payback of improved public services right across the sector and I am particularly pleased to have secured additional ICT spending in key areas.
On patrol
鈥淔or Garda铆, time saved on dealing with paperwork in the station means more time on patrol and on the frontline. This will also help the Government implement the reforms outlined in 鈥楢 Policing Service for the Future鈥, which followed on from the recommendations of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland.
鈥淭he new modernisation programme in the Courts Service is central to the reforms I want to drive across the justice system. We need to keep pace with the changes in society and this involves increasing the use of the tools and technology that will make it easier and quicker for people to resolve disputes and access justice.鈥
The minister added that funding will allow reform of the immigration area, where too many operations are still paper-based, and this will help speed up services to the public.鈥
And 鈧8 million will be allocated for the first year of the Court Modernisation Programme, which includes almost 鈧4 million in respect of ICT investment, with 鈧5 million for the justice ICT strategy.
Garda vote
The total gross allocation for the Garda vote in 2021 is a record 鈧1.952 billion, with provision for the following:
- The recruitment of up to 620 new Garda recruits and 500 Garda staff, to a strength of 14,700 by end-2021, with a further 300 recruits in training in Templemore,
- An increase in supervisory ranks at sergeant and inspector level,
- Maintaining the overtime budget of 鈧95million for 2021,
- Additional funding for Garda equipment, including personal security equipment,
- 鈧8 million for continued investment in the Garda fleet in addition to the highest ever investment of approximately 鈧15 million in the Garda Transport Fleet in 2020,
- 鈧34 million for the Capital Building and Refurbishment Programme including, the project to relocate An Garda S铆och谩na from Harcourt Square to a new purpose-built building at Military Road in Dublin鈥檚 Kilmainham.
Justice and Equality vote
The Justice and Equality vote increases by 鈧56.1 million (13.4%) on the comparative 2020 allocation, bringing the total gross allocation to 鈧474 million.
Legal Aid Board
An increased provision of over 鈧2 million in 2021 will bring total funding to 鈧44.6 million, a 6% increase to enable the board to recruit additional staff and enhance delivery of its services.
Forensic Science Ireland
Forensic Science Ireland plays a key role in the criminal justice sector and additional funding of 鈧4.4 million in current expenditure and 鈧10 million in capital expenditure has been provided.
The capital budget is almost 鈧51 million supporting the construction of FSI鈥檚 new state-of-the-art laboratory in Backweston, Co. Kildare.
Other areas in receipt of additional funding are as follows:
- Criminal Assets Bureau (鈧0.9 million) 鈥 total allocation 鈧9.96 million,
- Inspector of Prisons resources (鈧0.75 million) 鈥 total allocation 鈧1.95 million,
- Probation Service (鈧1.05 million) 鈥 total allocation for Probation Service 鈧50 million,
- Criminal Legal Aid (鈧3.7 million) 鈥 total allocation 鈧69 million,
- Youth Justice Interventions (鈧0.5 million) 鈥 total allocation 鈧14.5 million,
- Funding for victims of crime (鈧0.3 million) 鈥 total allocation 鈧2.2 million,
- Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal (鈧7 million) 鈥 total allocation 鈧11 million,
- Coroner Service 鈧10.2 million including for the Stardust Inquest 鈥 total allocation 鈧13 million,
- Parole Board (鈧0.75 million) 鈥 total allocation 鈧1.33 million 鈥 to support the commencement of the Parole Act in the course of 2021,
- Asylum processing 鈥 an additional 鈧1.750 million for the efficient functioning of the international protection system,
- Gambling Regulator (鈧0.1 million) 鈥 total allocation for establishment support 鈧0.2 million,
- Judicial Council (鈧0.5 million) 鈥 total allocation 鈧1.750 million,
- Property Services Regulatory Authority (鈧0.7 million) 鈥 total allocation 鈧3 million,
- Funding for the Free Legal Advice Centres (FLAC) (鈧196,000) 鈥 the Department鈥檚 allocation has been trebled to a total allocation of 鈧294,000.
Prisons vote
The Prisons Vote will have a current expenditure budget of 鈧358.5 million in 2021 and a capital budget of 鈧36 million, mainly to complete the redevelopment of Limerick Prison. This represents an increase of 鈧15 million in the capital allocation for 2021.
The Prison Vote has received 鈧1.65 million in additional funding to strengthen corporate governance.
A further 鈧5.7millionhas been made available for a range of other services including security costs, prisoner services and an increased maintenance budget of 鈧2 million for the prison estate
Courts vote
The total gross allocation of 鈧158.8 million for the Courts Vote includes an allocation of 鈧8 million for the new Courts Modernisation Programme.
Minister McEntee said: 鈥淭he Courts Service has already shown impressive innovation and adaptability during the pandemic.鈥
Policing Authority
The Policing Authority has a gross allocation of 鈧3.8 million including an additional 鈧350,000 in respect of updated recruitment processes to senior ranks of An Garda S铆och谩na.