8% increase for Courts Service in Budget 2026
Budget 2026 includes an allocation of €6.17 billion for the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration – an increase of 1.1% compared with 2025.
While just under €5.8 billion in current spending is 2.7% higher, the €390 million allocated for capital investment is down almost 18% compared with the previous year.
The figure includes €38 million extra in current spending for the Irish Prison Service and €11 million more for the Courts Service – both figures representing increases of 8% compared with 2025.
Garda overtime
Jack Chambers (Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation) told the Dáil that “up to 1,000 trainee” gardaí would be recruited in 2026, with an additional 200 civilian staff.
The garda overtime budget will increase by €19 million or 13%.
Fiosrú, which has taken over the role previously carried out by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, receives a 5% increase in spending for staff and technology.
Courts investment
The Government said that the current increase for the Courts Service would allow it to provide for additional staff to support the appointment of 20 extra judges.
The courts body also receives €55 million in capital spending for investment in its buildings across the country, with €17.5m for the courts’ modernisation programme.
The additional capital spending for the courts represents a 6% rise compared with last year.
There will be €27 million to meet additional costs arising from the delivery of schemes in areas such as criminal legal aid.
€1.6 billion for asylum accommodation
Other areas receiving funding increases are the Probation Service (€6.7 million) and an additional €11.5 million for initiatives linked to domestic and gender-based violence.
€1.6 billion in contingency funding is to be provided for accommodation for asylum-seekers and refugees from Ukraine.
The justice allocation also includes €4.7 million for the Gambling Authority of Ireland.
The Government also says that a 10% increase for the Data Protection Commission will allow it to recruit 24 new staff.