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

There is a commitment to developing a regional headquarters in Sligo and that project will proceed. The matter is a priority for the Government. The use of information technology, IT, in the Garda Síochána is also a priority. In fact, this week I had a meeting with the relevant stakeholders to review progress in respect of the various systems in place and to ensure that we can fulfil our EU obligations in this regard, as well as ensuring that the Garda has the required type of IT system. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, An Garda Síochána and the Department of Justice and Equality are working together on this and a €205 million investment in technology is currently being implemented. There is also a commitment to Schengen information system II. Due to the economic situation before this Government took office, that project did not go ahead as it should have. It is now under way and is extremely important. In addition, by the end of this year, the Prüm project will also be in place, which allows for fingerprinting and the exchange of fingerprinting. The technology is being put in place.

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