Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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23. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda stations with no Internet access. [10794/17]

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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24. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda stations that have been allocated or issued with a computer; and the number of these stations that have no Internet access. [10795/17]

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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25. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of memory sticks that have been allocated to each Garda station. [10796/17]

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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28. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of digital cameras allocated to each Garda station. [10799/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 to 25, inclusive, and 28 together.

As the Deputy will appreciate, decisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda equipment and resources, including ICT, are matters for the Garda Commissioner and I, as Minister, have no direct role in these matters.

However, I understand from the Garda authorities that every Garda station has been allocated a computer but, as I informed the Deputy in response to Parliamentary Question No. 13 of 16 February 2017, there are some 178 stations that are not connected to the Garda Network. The Deputy will be aware that the matter of enhancing rural access to the Garda network by connecting non-networked sites to the Garda Network is an initiative under the Garda Síochána Modernisation and Renewal Programme 2016-2021. This includes plans to introduce mobile technology solutions to enable operational Gardaí to access core information systems, including PULSE, while on duty and away from Garda stations. Providing members with real-time information on mobile devices, as well as enabling investigation teams to collect and share information digitally, will improve the effectiveness of the service provided to communities. Work on this has commenced.

In relation to the number of memory sticks allocated to each and every Garda station in the State, I have been advised by the Garda authorities that this information is not readily available and that the provision of the information would require a disproportionate amount of Garda time and resources. I have asked the Garda Commissioner for the other information requested by the Deputy and will revert to him when it is to hand.

I might add that the Garda Síochána Modernisation and Renewal Programme 2016-2021 is intended to professionalise, modernise and renew An Garda Síochána to ensure that the organisation can meet present and future challenges. I am informed that the Programme prioritises technology projects with the aim of improving the services delivered to communities by members of An Garda Síochána. The Government is highly supportive of these initiatives and this is underpinned by significant Government investment under the Capital Plan of some €205 million in additional funding for Garda ICT.