Spending on justice at all-time historic high, says McDowell

AN increased number of gardaí, more funding for child-care places and legal aid services and a plan to build a central criminal court complex are key priorities for Justice Minister Michael McDowell next year.

However, estimates for the Department of Justice appear to only partially reflect spending for 2005. Minister McDowell and his officials are still in discussions with Finance Minister Brian Cowen over funding for a range of other major capital works, particularly for the gardaí.

Minister McDowell said spending on justice, which covers the gardaí, prisons, the courts and a range of the equality budgets, was at an "all time historic high".