Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 161: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if adequate state-of-the-art technology is sufficiently available to the Garda authorities to assist them in the fight against crime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15909/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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While the Garda authorities are satisfied that the technology required to assist in the fight against crime is available to them, the Garda Síochána constantly evaluates all available technology with a view to determining the technology best suited to its needs.

Significant resources are being invested in technology for the gardaí to assist them in the exercise of all their functions. The capital allocation for IT in 2006 is €33.323 million. The allocation for communications is €12.9 million.

At present, the procurement of a managed digital radio service is being undertaken by the Department of Finance on behalf of the Garda Síochána, other blue-light services and some non-commercial public bodies. An EU-based restricted tender procedure is currently under way, and the first stage of short-listing suppliers has been completed. It is planned that tender documents will be issued to those suppliers in the coming weeks. The implementation of the new service is planned to commence later this year.