Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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146. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if adequate resources remain available to An Garda Síochána to combat the activities of criminal gangs throughout the country; if any augmentation of strength, equipment or facilities is required; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10618/16]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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148. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she has identified a deficiency in the resources available to An Garda Síochána that will be an issue in the fight against criminal gangs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10620/16]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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149. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her priorities for augmenting the stength, transport facilities and technical equipment of An Garda Síochána over the next five years and in particular to ensure the availability of adequate resources to combat criminal activity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10621/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 146, 148 and 149 together.

The Programme for a Partnership Government prioritises a significant programme of investment in An Garda Síochána with an overarching goal of continuing the accelerated recruitment programme with a view to increasing Garda numbers to 15,000, to double the Garda Reserve and to increase further civilianisation to free up more Gardaí for front line policing duties.

The Programme also recognises that Gardaí must have the modern technology and resources necessary to detect and investigate crimes, and to prevent loss and harm to citizens and their property on a 24/7 basis.

The 2016 Budget allocation of €1.5 billion for An Garda Síochána includes over €67 million in additional funding which, in addition to the recruitment of new trainee Gardaí, also provides additional funding for Garda Surveillance, special operations and targeted, intelligence-led policing. This additional recruitment and budget allocation builds on the current high level of investment in Garda vehicles.

Over €34 million has been invested in new Garda vehicles since 2012 with over 720 new vehicles coming on stream since the start of 2015. This significant investment provides the Gardaí with additional high-powered vehicles, marked and unmarked patrol cars, and motorcycles for high-visibility road policing. Investment in a modern, effective and fit-for-purpose Garda fleet will continue under the Government’s Capital Plan 2016-2021 which provides €46 million for new Garda vehicles, ensuring that Gardaí can be mobile, visible and responsive, on the roads and in the community.

The Government is also investing in Garda airborne surveillance and enhanced technology and ICT systems. In fact, the Capital Plan 2016-2021 provides an additional €205 million for Garda ICT over the lifetime of the Plan which will allow An Garda Síochána to deploy the latest cutting edge technologies in the fight against crime. In addition, the Government will support investment in CCTV at key locations along the road network and in urban centres.

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. These and other new technological solutions, as well as the investment in resources, will ensure that An Garda Síochána has the capacity to provide effective policing services in responding to the evolving challenges of modern day criminal activity.

Taken together, this step-change in investment in policing demonstrates this Government's commitment to investing in 21st Century policing and will ensure that the Gardaí can be mobile, visible and responsive, on the roads and in the community to prevent and tackle crime.

I have assured An Garda Síochána that they have the full support of the Government in their efforts to disrupt gang-related crime and they will continue to access all resources necessary, including extensive overtime, to support them in delivering concentrated visible policing measures to tackle such crime.