Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 51: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason it has taken a total of six years to reach the point whereby the Tetra consortium have been awarded the tender to pilot the national digital radio system for An Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12986/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The new Digital Radio Service for An Garda Síochána is currently being implemented. This is a nationwide system that will be used by An Garda Síochána and by the other emergency services. It will enable instant and secure communications not only between Garda members but also with the emergency services, and where necessary with the PSNI. It will also provide Gardaí with a key safety feature – the ability to summon assistance at the push of a button and identify the location of that person.

Following the completion of the Garda pilot which confirmed that a specific technology being tested — Tetra — was suitable for the Force, the Garda Authorities prepared a detailed business case with various procurement options for nationwide deployment of a digital radio system for the Force. In consultation with the Department of Finance it was decided to both broaden the scope of the project to include the other emergency services and also to procure the service by way of an outsourced service provision model. I believe the approach adopted of using the outsourced service provision model is the best approach in ensuring value for money for the project as it has the effect of spreading the cost across the various Government organisations. Once these decisions were taken, specifications of requirements covering all emergency services were drawn up including specification of the functionality required, detailed coverage required including in-building and outdoor coverage, vehicular and sea and air support coverage. A tender competition in accordance with EU procurement law was then carried out and a preferred bidder — Tetra Ireland — has been selected.

I am on record as saying that the process has taken much longer than I would have liked. However, I think the Deputy will agree that a service providing Gardaí and other emergency services with critical support, sometimes in life or death situations, is important to get right. The process of implementation is now underway and while the exact timeframe for rollout will be subject to contract negotiations and successful completion of an initial phase of the project, it will be completed within a 2 year timeframe. Indications from the preferred bidder are that rollout will be achieved in a shorter timeframe and as the rollout progresses and radio coverage is available, Garda Divisions will migrate onto the new service.