Garda force needed extra €20m last year to meet demand
Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly addressed the Public Accounts Committee regarding internal disclosure policies and financial discrepancies. The force faced scrutiny over unused hotel bookings and errors in speed camera operations while justifying a €20 million budget overrun.
Why it matters
This highlights the challenges of managing large public budgets and the importance of oversight in law enforcement agencies.
The Garda Commissioner has said the procedures and policies of the Garda's Protective Disclosures Unit is being reviewed following the recent RTÉ Investigates programme.
Justin Kelly told the Public Accounts Committee that he has full confidence in the unit which has been strengthened in the last number of years, including the appointment of a full time manager, additional training and updated policies.
Commissioner Kelly said An Garda Síochána wanted people to come forward and he was satisfied it has the processes, policies and structures in place to enable them to do so.
In the past six years, 113 protected disclosures have been made, including 17 so far this year.
Mr Kelly also said there was "a limited role" for him as commissioner around protected disclosures and that he had not reviewed any.
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