Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 650: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding the operation of the PULSE system; the number of Garda stations in which it is available and not available; the practical implications for members of the Garda Síochána who are attached to Garda stations where it is not available having to input the system; the effect in terms of time lost in so doing; the amount being expended per month in consultants fees on the system; the cost to date of the system since it was introduced seven years ago; and the shortcomings he accepts apply to the system. [10576/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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Significant developments have been underway, particularly over the past year to improve the stability of the PULSE system, as well as providing for increased functionality and greater access to the system.

In particular, significant improvements to the PULSE system have been achieved in terms of the improved number of networked locations; extra PCs made available at existing networked Garda stations, and significant strengthening of the PULSE platform. The upgrade of the PULSE system, which arises from the natural life-cycle of IT equipment, is now nearing completion. As a result of this work, the PULSE platform has been significantly strengthened and major improvements in response times have been recorded. PULSE is now a robust platform that has suffered no unplanned downtime.

The Garda authorities also inform me that items of interest inquiries on PULSE have increased by 23% over the last 12 months. The next phase of work will address the replacement of printers across all networked stations. PULSE is now available in 231 Garda locations nationwide including all major city stations and divisional and district headquarters. This represents a significant increase over 2005 figures as an additional 50 Garda stations were networked during 2005.

It was never the intention that all 703 Garda stations be directly linked to PULSE. Many of these stations are occupied for only a few hours per day and in some cases a few hours per week. The Garda authorities inform me that it is planned to extend the network further during 2006. The processes and procedures are in place to assist gardaí in non-networked stations to get access to PULSE. The processes and procedures cover both data entry access or inquiry access to information on the PULSE system.

A major new initiative involving the manner in which data is input to PULSE is underway with the set-up of the new PULSE data entry centre at Castlebar, County Mayo. The centre, staffed by civilian personnel, allows for gardaí at the scene of incidents to report such incidents by mobile telephone to call takers at the centre. This obviates the need for gardaí to return to their stations to report incidents. The system is in operation in the southern region and is planned to be extended nationwide.

These new procedures will benefit all gardaí, particularly those from non-networked stations. I am confident the measures outlined above as well as the set-up of the call centre at Castlebar will ensure gardaí will have access to the requisite information in the most efficient and effective manner possible.

The costs requested by the Deputy are being finalised by the Garda authorities and I will forward them directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.