Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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283. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will report on the implementation of community policing teams as outlined in the An Garda Síochána modernisation and renewal programme 2016 to 2021; the estimated full year cost of such teams; the number and location of such teams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31054/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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Last July, the Government approved a Five Year Reform and High Level Workforce Plan for An Garda Síochána which combines the Government’s response to the Garda Inspectorate report 'Changing Policing in Ireland' and the commitments in the Programme for a Partnership Government aimed at increasing the visibility, effectiveness and responsiveness of An Garda Síochána. The Government agreed that the Garda Commissioner's Modernisation and Renewal Programme (MRP) 2016-2021 would be the vehicle for implementation of the Inspectorate recommendations aimed at the Garda organisation. In support of this plan, Budget 2017 provided funding to continue to expand the number of Gardaí towards 15,000, to double the Reserve to 2,000 and to double the number of civilians to 4,000 by 2021. In addition, the plan is supported by substantial capital investment of some €310 million in critical ICT infrastructure, the fleet and other Garda facilities.

Robust independent oversight is essential to ensuring that the pursuit of the reform programme is relentless over the next 5 years. To ensure that this is case, the 240 agreed recommendations of 'Changing Policing in Ireland' have been referred to the Policing Authority to monitor and assess their implementation by An Garda Síochána and to report progress to me on a quarterly basis. The first two progress reports from the Authority, received in January and April, have been published on my Department's website.

It is the most ambitious programme of reform ever embarked on by the organisation and due to the scale of the programme, a phased planning approach is essential. In this regard the Commissioner has advised that some initiatives will be implemented in the short to medium term, while others will require a number of years to implement fully.

Community policing is at the heart of An Garda Síochána. It provides a means of recognising that every community – both urban and rural – has its own concerns and expectations. In this regard I welcome the strong emphasis placed by the MRP on further developing and supporting the community policing ethos of the organisation so that Gardaí spend more time in the community, gaining public confidence and trust and providing a greater sense of security. Under this "Community Policing Framework" initiative it is envisaged that Community Policing teams comprising of Gardaí from a range of areas will be established. These teams will work with local communities to prevent and detect crime in their locality. In addition, each Community Team will be supported by a Community Safety Forum. The Community Safety Fora which will comprise of local Gardaí, members of the public and community groups will promote crime prevention strategies. This clear and consistent approach to community policing will ensure a better service and enhanced community safety.

In terms of progress on this important initiative I am informed by the Commissioner that a draft Community Policing Strategy which outlines the manner in which CPTs and Community Safety Fora will be established has been completed and is subject to internal review before being approved by the Executive for implementation.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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284. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will report on the reform of the computer crime investigation unit as outlined in the An Garda Síochána modernisation and renewal programme 2016 to 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31055/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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Last July, the Government approved a Five Year Reform and High Level Workforce Plan for An Garda Síochána which combines the Government’s response to the Garda Inspectorate report 'Changing Policing in Ireland' and the commitments in the Programme for a Partnership Government aimed at increasing the visibility, effectiveness and responsiveness of An Garda Síochána. The Government agreed that the Garda Commissioner's Modernisation and Renewal Programme (MRP) 2016-2021 would be the vehicle for implementation of the Inspectorate recommendations aimed at the Garda organisation. In support of this plan, Budget 2017 provided funding to continue to expand the number of Gardaí towards 15,000, to double the Reserve to 2,000 and to double the number of civilians to 4,000 by 2021. In addition, the plan is supported by substantial capital investment of some €310 million in critical ICT infrastructure, the fleet and other Garda facilities.

Robust independent oversight is essential to ensuring that the pursuit of the reform programme is relentless over the next 5 years. To ensure that this is case, the 240 agreed recommendations of 'Changing Policing in Ireland' have been referred to the Policing Authority to monitor and assess their implementation by An Garda Síochána and to report progress to me on a quarterly basis. The first two progress reports from the Authority, received in January and April, have been published on my Department's website.

It is the most ambitious programme of reform ever embarked on by the organisation and due to the scale of the programme, a phased planning approach is essential. In this regard the Commissioner has advised that some initiatives will be implemented in the short to medium term, while others will require a number of years to implement fully.

In relation to the area of cyber crime the MRP provides for the review and restructuring of the Computer Crime Investigation Unit, originally a unit under the auspices of the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation. The aim of the initiative is to establish a dedicated cyber crime bureau to ensure An Garda Síochána has the capacity and capabilities to deal with cyber crime and cyber security. I am informed that the Garda Cyber Crime Bureau (GCCB) was established on 1 September 2016 under the direction of the Detective Chief Superintendent, Garda National Economic Crime Bureau and Assistant Commissioner, Special Crime Operations. The GCCB is headed up by a Detective Superintendent who was appointed in August 2016. The GCCB has responsibility for the forensic examination of all seized computer media, international liaison with regard to cyber matters and the investigation of cyber crime matters including banking and financial crimes, and child pornography and exploitation. The allocation of further resources to the GCCB including Garda members, specialist professional staff and support staff, is in train to support the further development of the GCCB.

In addition, I am informed that the roll-out continues on a phased basis of regional triage units, which have been established in two regions to date - the Southern and South-Eastern Regions. The triage model provides a tiered response and capability for computer forensic services on a regional basis, utilising locally-based and trained first-responders and cyber triage specialists. The triage model also reduces demands on the GCCB, while remaining under the supervision of the Detective Superintendent of the Bureau. The triage units currently in place are subject of review to inform and establish best practices and processes for the establishment of further such units in other regions.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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285. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will report on the establishment of a national crime prevention centre as outlined in the An Garda Síochána modernisation and renewal programme 2016 to 2021; the estimated full year cost of such a centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31056/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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Last July, the Government approved a Five Year Reform and High Level Workforce Plan for An Garda Síochána which combines the Government’s response to the Garda Inspectorate report 'Changing Policing in Ireland' and the commitments in the Programme for a Partnership Government aimed at increasing the visibility, effectiveness and responsiveness of An Garda Síochána. The Government agreed that the Garda Commissioner's Modernisation and Renewal Programme (MRP) 2016-2021 would be the vehicle for implementation of the Inspectorate recommendations aimed at the Garda organisation. In support of this plan, Budget 2017 provided funding to continue to expand the number of Gardaí towards 15,000, to double the Reserve to 2,000 and to double the number of civilians to 4,000 by 2021. In addition, the plan is supported by substantial capital investment of some €310 million in critical ICT infrastructure, the fleet and other Garda facilities.

Robust independent oversight is essential to ensuring that the pursuit of the reform programme is relentless over the next 5 years. To ensure that this is case, the 240 agreed recommendations of 'Changing Policing in Ireland' have been referred to the Policing Authority to monitor and assess their implementation by An Garda Síochána and to report progress to me on a quarterly basis. The first two progress reports from the Authority, received in January and April, have been published on my Department's website.

The MRP includes more than 80 initiatives and 135 projects at present of which 24 have been completed with a significant number in progress. The MRP is the most ambitious programme of reform ever embarked on by the organisation. Due to the scale of the programme, a phased planning approach is essential. In this regard the Commissioner has advised that some initiatives will be implemented in the short to medium term, while others will require a number of years to implement fully. The establishment of a National Crime Prevention Centre to research and distribute best practice on crime prevention throughout the organisation while part of the Programme is not due to be progressed this year but will be progressed in a later phase of the programme.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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286. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will report on the establishment of an economic crime bureau centre as outlined in the An Garda Síochána modernisation and renewal programme 2016 to 2021; the estimated full year cost of such a centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31057/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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Last July, the Government approved a Five Year Reform and High Level Workforce Plan for An Garda Síochána which combines the Government’s response to the Garda Inspectorate report 'Changing Policing in Ireland' and the commitments in the Programme for a Partnership Government aimed at increasing the visibility, effectiveness and responsiveness of An Garda Síochána. The Government agreed that the Garda Commissioner's Modernisation and Renewal Programme (MRP) 2016-2021 would be the vehicle for implementation of the Inspectorate recommendations aimed at the Garda organisation. In support of this plan, Budget 2017 provided funding to continue to expand the number of Gardaí towards 15,000, to double the Reserve to 2,000 and to double the number of civilians to 4,000 by 2021. In addition, the plan is supported by substantial capital investment of some €310 million in critical ICT infrastructure, the fleet and other Garda facilities.

Robust independent oversight is essential to ensuring that the pursuit of the reform programme is relentless over the next 5 years. To ensure that this is case, the 240 agreed recommendations of 'Changing Policing in Ireland' have been referred to the Policing Authority to monitor and assess their implementation by An Garda Síochána and to report progress to me on a quarterly basis. The first two progress reports from the Authority, received in January and April, have been published on my Department's website.

It is the most ambitious programme of reform ever embarked on by the organisation and due to the scale of the programme, a phased planning approach is essential. In this regard the Commissioner has advised that some initiatives will be implemented in the short to medium term, while others will require a number of years to implement fully.

In relation to the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (formerly the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation), I am informed that this was established on 1 September 2016.

The Bureau has dedicated expert staff, including professional forensic accountants, to address white collar and other fraud and economic crimes, and includes the restructured Garda Cyber Crime Bureau, the Money-laundering Investigation Unit and a new Foreign Bribery and Corruption Unit.

I am informed that Garda management within the Bureau are working with local Garda management, at District and Divisional levels, to ensure the necessary tools and training are provided to enable and empower District and Divisional resources to investigate cases of economic crime at that level, with advice and guidance available from within the Bureau. The Bureau is now also placing a greater emphasis on ensuring that economic crime of lesser amounts that are currently reported to the Bureau are assessed and transmitted to District Officers for investigation, with more complex cases, routinely involving significant amounts, being investigated by the Bureau. The additional staff including forensic accountants assigned to the Bureau has facilitated the Bureau in providing greater expertise and assistance to Divisional and District personnel in "following the money" when investigating organised criminality in order to identify the proceeds of crime.

In addition, I understand new software has been developed and provided to the Financial Intelligence Unit in order to process Suspicious Transaction Reports (STR) provided, pursuant to relevant legislation, by ‘designated persons’, including financial institutions and certain professions. The software was developed by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and provides the benefit of secure transactions; a reduction in administration costs; the ability to monitor reports, analyse and assess crime trends being reported through the STR process.

Senior management continue to review the needs of the Bureau to enable it to fully realise to the aims of the MRP and to ensure that An Garda Síochána maximises it capability to investigate emerging forms of economic crime.

It is not possible, at this stage of development, to estimate the total costs associated with the complete roll-out of the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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287. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will report on the establishment of a road policing unit as outlined in the An Garda Síochána modernisation and renewal programme 2016 to 2021; the estimated full year cost of such a unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31058/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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Last July, the Government approved a Five Year Reform and High Level Workforce Plan for An Garda Síochána which combines the Government’s response to the Garda Inspectorate report 'Changing Policing in Ireland' and the commitments in the Programme for a Partnership Government aimed at increasing the visibility, effectiveness and responsiveness of An Garda Síochána. The Government agreed that the Garda Commissioner's Modernisation and Renewal Programme (MRP) 2016-2021 would be the vehicle for implementation of the Inspectorate recommendations aimed at the Garda organisation. In support of this plan, Budget 2017 provided funding to continue to expand the number of Gardaí towards 15,000, to double the Reserve to 2,000 and to double the number of civilians to 4,000 by 2021. In addition, the plan is supported by substantial capital investment of some €310 million in critical ICT infrastructure, the fleet and other Garda facilities.

Robust independent oversight is essential to ensuring that the pursuit of the reform programme is relentless over the next 5 years. To ensure that this is case, the 240 agreed recommendations of 'Changing Policing in Ireland' have been referred to the Policing Authority to monitor and assess their implementation by An Garda Síochána and to report progress to me on a quarterly basis. The first two progress reports from the Authority, received in January and April, have been published on my Department's website.

The Programme places considerable emphasise on roads policing including the redevelopment of the Garda Traffic Corps as Garda Roads Policing Units with wider roads policing functions. The intention is that working with non-traffic personnel, the units will seek to deprive criminals the use of the road network through high visibility policing and intelligence-led enforcement operations. This redevelopment initiative is ongoing. The Policing Plan for 2017 includes a commitment to incrementally increase the resources allocated to Roads Policing Units by 10% across all regions by the end of the year. I understand that the Assistant Commissioner with responsibility for Roads Policing is currently assessing the capacity of Divisions and Districts to identify and target areas where An Garda Síochána could accelerate the deployment of personnel to traffic in 2017. The filling of any vacancies identified will be conducted on a structured basis and will be further enhanced with the recently renewed recruitment campaigns to An Garda Síochána.