Lenihan denies policing cuts despite overtime warnings

JUSTICE Minister Brian Lenihan said there would be no cut in policing, despite warnings by Garda bosses that the overtime budget is due to run out by August.

The comments came as the minister announced he had requested the Garda Inspectorate to examine how the allocation of money within the gardaí could be improved.

At the annual conference of the Association of Garda Superintendents on Wednesday, the chief administrative officer of the force said the Garda overtime budget would run out by the end of August unless “corrective measures” were taken. John Leamy said the Government and the minister had given “firm warnings” there would be no more money.