Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Tánaiste for her presentation. I have a few questions on it. We have had positive results from Operation Thor and there has been a welcome shift in the figures. The Minister outlined that 520 new vehicles will be purchased in 2017. Does she have an indication of the number of vehicles that will be installed with automatic number plate recognition, ANPR, technology? How many vehicles have had that technology installed to date? It is an important technology for crime surveillance and road traffic issues. Many gardaí would mention it to me as being a priority technology. Given that new vehicles are being purchased, it is important that they would have this technology installed. There were previous announcements about an investment in ANPR technology.

Regarding recruitment towards meeting the targeted figure of 15,000 gardaí provided for in the confidence and supply arrangement, it is projected that there will be massive increase in Garda retirements. In the three-year period from 2018 to 2020 there will be a significant number of retirements. Has the Minister planned as part of the Garda recruitment process to offset the number of retirements to ensure there is not a large reduction in Garda numbers? There have been fewer retirements this year, and the same will be the case next year because of the recruitment embargo in the 1980s. Are there budgetary plans and projections for Garda recruitment?

I have a concern about the underspend of the allocation for prisons. It is important that the Minister and the Department focuses on some new programmes around penal reform and on what can be achieved in the prison system. If money from the allocation to prisons is being returned to the State, I would prefer to see it allocated within the system towards new programmes or reforms.

The elephant in the room with respect to these Supplementary Estimates is the funding of the Labour Court agreement if it is approved. There are some welcome improvements in Garda pay and conditions. What is the Minister's plan to fund those? What discussions are taking place at Government level towards funding that agreement, which will probably occur and which many gardaí, particularly younger gardaí, deserve?