Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his question. I think I have put this on the record before. I am advised by the Garda authorities that there are currently some 178 stations that are not connected to the Garda network.

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Members in non-networked locations can contact the Garda information services centre 24 hours a day to log an incident or access information from the PULSE system if required. As such, while those stations do not have direct access, they have an alternative in the 24 hour provision.

We have to move ahead and prioritise technology projects in An Garda Síochána. I brought the first working group together between the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the Department of Justice and Equality and An Garda Síochána to look at Garda IT requirements and we are now investing approximately €300 million in this area.

We have to introduce mobile technology solutions to allow operational gardaí to access core information including PULSE while on duty and away from Garda stations. Providing members with real-time information and mobile devices, as well as enabling investigation teams to collect and share information digitally, will improve the effectiveness of the service provided to communities.

The network will be expanded throughout 2017 to ensure that additional stations gain access to the relevant systems. Garda information systems such as PULSE will also be modernised to ensure that members have quick access to timely and accurate information.

The Government is certainly supporting them. When I had the working group in place, there was a commitment of over €205 million and that has been added to. I have asked the Garda Commissioner for the specific information requested by the Deputy and will revert to him when it is to hand.

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