Gardaí have spent €11 million on overtime wages while trying to suppress protests over the controversial Shell gas pipeline.

Reports on Monday revealed the €11 million bill for garda overtime payments as protestors at the Corrib gas site.

Last week, 11 men and one woman were held over public order offences following a protest over the pipeline, and were taken to Bellmullet Garda Station.

The 12, who are members of a newly formed community group, were taking part in a protest at Glengad Beach where the pipeline is due to brought ashore.

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The group is opposing the location of the €300m gas refinery 9km inland at Bellanboy, saying it wants the gas refinery relocated to an area on the north coast of Mayo where they say it will present less of a health and safety hazard to the local community and the environment.

Last month, the Erris Inshore Fishermen's Association (EIFA) stepped up the intensity of their protest over plans by Shell EP Ireland to begin laying the gas project's offshore pipeline before reaching any agreement on the gas refinery's controversial discharge pipe.

A small Garda presence and two Garda rigid inflatables monitored the protest.

Pat O'Donnell, one of the skippers involved in the protest, said that Shell has "not been listening to us for the last eight years".

"Let the Minister for Justice and the Government protect our rights now the way they brought in the gardaí to protect the workers on the gas refinery," he said.

On Friday, Fine Gael claimed every Garda division had been instructed to cut back on community, evening and weekend policing due to a lack of overtime funds.

(DW/JM)