Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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63. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide additional funding for the appointment of additional specialist personnel and equipment to the Garda computer crime unit. [34224/16]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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79. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the total number of personal engaged in cyber crime policing in An Garda Síochána per annum from 2010 to date in 2016, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34361/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 63 and 79 together.

As the Deputies will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources among the various Garda Divisions and Districts, and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. I am assured by the Commissioner that the allocation of resources is continually monitored and reviewed taking into account all relevant factors including crime trends, demographics, and security assessments relating to the area in question so as to ensure optimal use is made of Garda human resources.

I am informed by the Commissioner that, on foot of a review of the Computer Crime Investigation Unit (CCIU) under the Garda Síochána’s Modernisation and Renewal Programme 2016-2021, a dedicated Garda Cyber Crime Bureau has recently been established to ensure An Garda Síochána has the capacity and capabilities to deal with cyber crime and cyber security. The Garda Cyber Crime Bureau is headed up by a Detective Superintendent who will, in due course, be supported by two Detective Inspectors who will have responsibility for cyber crime and for computer forensics. I am also informed that regional cyber crime units will be established and that pilot regional units have already been established in the Southern and South-Eastern Regions to provide computer forensic services on a regional basis.

I understand that the allocation of additional and support staff for the Cyber Crime Bureau is ongoing. In this regard, in conjunction with the Garda College, a module on cyber crime investigation has been included in the training programme for all trainee Gardaí, with all other Garda personnel receiving training through the Continuous Professional Development network in cyber crime awareness and cyber crime investigation.

The Deputy will recall that an additional €205 million will be invested in Garda ICT infrastructure as part of the Government's Capital Investment Plan 2016-2021.

The following table details the number of personnel engaged in cyber crime policing for the years identified by the Deputy.

*The figures provided include members of all ranks, up to and including the D/Superintendent.