Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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391. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which adequate provision continues to be made to ensure the availability of the most sophisticated technology to assist An Garda Síochána in the course of its duties; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36629/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Under the Garda Síochána Act, 2005 the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of available Garda resources. This includes personnel, Garda vehicles and the various technologies utilised to support frontline Gardaí and intelligence led operations against organised crime. This process takes account of annual policing priorities determined by me as Minister for Justice in consultation with the Commissioner as provided for under Section 20 of the Garda Síochána Act, 2005.

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 in the context of their annual policing plans, as provided for in section 22 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005. 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 PULSE system, which itself is further supported by a dedicated Garda data entry service in Castlebar. The substantial additional investment of €205 million in new technology and systems for An Garda Síochána provided under the Capital Plan 2016-2021 will facilitate progress on further important reforms arising from the Garda Inspectorate's report on Crime Investigation. Examples of the new systems to be developed through this investment include:

- new computer-aided dispatch to ensure responsive and coordinated deployment of Gardaí in the community;

- mobile technology to give the Gardai secure mobile access to critical information when and where they need it;

- investigations management systems to ensure enhanced management of crime investigations; and

- upgrading the APNR to enhance policing of road safety and compliance.

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, scheduled to become operational shortly.

These and other new technological solutions will reduce the amount of Garda time involved in paperwork and will ensure that Gardaí can spend more time engaged in front line policing.