Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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55. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 89 of 2 November 2016, where she stated that, as of 24 October 2016, some 103 official Garda vehicles, 91 of which are in the traffic corps, have been fitted with automatic name plate recognition technology, ANPR, the number of traffic corps vehicles there were as of 24 October 2016 in total; when the remaining vehicles will be fitted with ANPR; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33915/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, decisions in relation to the provision and allocation of resources is a matter for the Garda Commissioner and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that, as of 4 November, there are 289 vehicles assigned for use by the Traffic Corps. I am also informed that ANPR is in use in all Garda Divisions and Districts nationwide and that the use of this technology is kept under constant review by Garda management.

The Deputy may be aware that under the Garda Síochána Modernisation and Renewal Programme 2016-2021, there are plans to make greater use of ANPR. The Programme envisages the expansion of the number of ANPR units and all units being 3G-enabled to give Gardaí real-time information on suspect vehicles. In addition, the Programme envisages that An Garda Síochána will examine the introduction of fixed ANPR sites at strategic locations across the road network in addition to using portable ANPR units while patrolling.