Mr. Jack Nolan:

Approximately 70% of Garda stations have full access to the networked PULSE system. The stations not networked are the minor facilities in small areas where, as Dr. Singh has pointed out, very little policing activity occurs that would require recording. That is not to say it would not be desirable to have every station networked but with the advent of mobile technology, etc., that will become a different way of working. Mobile technology is one of the areas of development under the Garda modernisation and renewal programme. I continually hear that An Garda Síochána is 30 years behind comparable police organisations internationally. That phrase has made its way into the lexicon of conversations on policing. Many other jurisdictions are similarly challenged to stay abreast of technology. An Garda Síochána has a very carefully choreographed and funded programme over the course of the next few years that should ensure we are at the forefront of using technology as an aid to policing.

Recording incidents challenges An Garda Síochána and there are reports from other jurisdictions pointing out the same gaps between calls to stations and recording of incidents. There is a variety of reasons for that. The latest Central Statistics Office, CSO, report indicated that 17% of calls were lost somewhere along the line by An Garda Síochána. We are addressing that. We have had pilot approaches to identify what was happening and where. I hope to come back to the committee and give it a different picture in that regard. It is an issue for every police force. We do not have a national call and dispatch, CAD, system. We had plans for it in 2008 but unfortunately it could not be progressed due to the economic problems at that time. We are moving towards it. I am confident that will assist in reducing the opportunities for calls for service that are lost in transaction.