Garda Undercharging for Events May Subsidise Private Commercial Gatherings, Says PAC

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) found that An Garda Síochána may be subsidising private commercial events, such as concerts and sporting fixtures, due to undercharging for policing services. The Dáil spending watchdog is requesting the Garda compile an annual report on the true costs of policing «non-public duty» (NPD) events and provide an update within nine months.

The PAC report, drawing on work by the Comptroller & Auditor General (C&AG), expresses concern over the current flat-rate charging model of €45 per hour per member. This model lacks transparency and rigor, potentially leading to public funds subsidizing private events. In 2023, the Garda recovered over €7 million, but the C&AG noted unpaid fees from previous years and flaws in implementation, such as excluding overtime, allowances, and higher-rank pay from calculations.

A review of 15 events revealed gardaí worked more hours than estimated, with one event undercharged by almost €67,000. Another event had charges waived for a non-registered charity that still charged an entry fee. Weaknesses in record-keeping and internal controls were also identified, lacking a robust audit trail linking deployment to invoiced amounts.

The PAC also raised concerns about the Garda's management of €40 million in cash held as evidence, recommending consideration of lodging seized cash in secure accounts to mitigate operational, financial, and reputational risks. Additionally, the report addressed Garda recruitment targets, Garda Reserve utilization, and requested progress reports on trauma-informed training for frontline members.