Irish Police Failed to Provide Overtime Records to Auditors, Report Finds

An audit has uncovered significant shortcomings in how An Garda Síochána, Ireland's national police force, manages its substantial overtime payments. The Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) reported that the force repeatedly failed to provide necessary approval records for overtime, despite numerous requests.

The review of a €201 million annual overtime bill found that supporting documentation was missing in 45 out of 67 cases selected for examination. The audit highlighted instances where officers were paid for more hours than officially authorized. In two specific cases, over 50 hours of overtime were paid without the requisite approval from a senior officer. Furthermore, the C&AG was unable to examine ten payment cases because An Garda Síochána failed to arrange a requested meeting.

"A meeting with members of the [garda] team to carry out elements of the testing, including overtime approval, was not arranged despite a number of requests to do so," the audit stated. This lack of transparency and oversight creates a substantial risk of errors, overpayments, and the potential misappropriation of public funds.

Overtime costs within An Garda Síochána have more than doubled in the past five years. From 2023 to 2024 alone, these costs increased by 11%, rising from €184 million to €201 million. The audit also noted that there is no overarching policy governing overtime, despite the significant financial implications.

In response, An Garda Síochána indicated that new policies and procedures are anticipated to be implemented during 2026, following extensive consultation. The force stated that considerable focus had been placed on the drivers and costing of overtime during 2025, including efforts to manage the cost-effective deployment of members during Ireland's EU Presidency.

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A meeting with members of the [garda] team to carry out elements of the testing, including overtime approval, was not arranged despite a number of requests to do so.