Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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113. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which the technology including forensic technology available to An Garda Síochána continues to be upgraded in line with international best practice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36068/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The operation and deployment of Garda resources, including equipment, is a matter for the Garda Commissioner. In that regard I am informed by the Garda authorities that they are continually looking to ensure that the latest information, communications and forensic technologies are sourced and deployed to achieve their strategic objectives as set out the Policing Plan for 2014, which includes commitments to target individuals and groups engaged in organised criminal activity. This policy is designed to ensure that the Garda Síochána will be in a position to meet the evolving needs of a modern effective police force and take advantage of proven up to date technological developments in crime detection and prevention as they occur.

In terms of existing technology, the Deputy will be aware that a considerable amount of new Garda ICT solutions has been delivered over the past number of years. These include the deployment of a secure national digital radio system (NDRS), the deployment and support of Garda and Community CCTV systems, an automated number plate recognition (ANPR) system, and the addition of many new functions to the modernised PULSE system, a class-leader in terms of incident recording which itself is further supported by a dedicated Garda data entry service in Castlebar.

In the area of forensics the situation is that the Garda authorities currently employ state-of-the-art automated fingerprint and ballistics identification systems which I am informed are at least on a par with those used by police forces in other EU jurisdictions. The Deputy will also be aware that the forensic capacity of An Garda Síochána will be further enhanced by a new national DNA database, expected to become operational later this year, which was established on foot of the Criminal Justice (Forensic Evidence and DNA Database System) Act, 2014.