Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 100: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of Garda stations equipped with e-mail facilities; the number of uniformed members of An Garda Síochána who have individual access to e-mail; the cost of providing e-mail to members; and the estimated cost of providing e-mail to every member. [13183/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I am informed by the Garda Authorities that the Garda Wide Area Network (WAN) is used to deliver access to the Garda Information System (GIS) which includes, inter alia, access to PULSE, the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) Systems and email. Access to the GIS is currently available in over 320 locations.

All Gardaí have access to internal email via the GIS. Access to external email is available to all Gardaí from the rank of Inspector upwards. External email is also made available to Sergeants, Gardaí and civilian staff as operational needs require. I am further informed by the Garda Authorities that a pilot exercise is currently underway to assess how best to maximise the use and facilities of email by the Force.

With regard to the question of costs, the Garda authorities inform me that because email was delivered as part of the overall infrastructure underpinning the Garda information systems, the specific cost for delivery of email is not available.