Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

440. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the provision of remote access to information and technology to Garda members; if this is in place for all members; and if it is available on a mobile basis. [34793/17]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

441. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide a report on the enterprise content management system initiative in An Garda Síochána; and if this initiative is now complete. [34794/17]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

442. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide a report on the investigation management initiative in An Garda Síochána; if the proposed development of a new system to enable the electronic management and tracking of all investigation tasks and processes will be complete by the end of 2017. [34795/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 440 to 442, inclusive, together.

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

The Deputy will be aware that the extensive programme of reform currently underway in An Garda Síochána is based primarily on the reports of the Garda Síochána Inspectorate and is under the independent oversight of the Policing Authority. The Government has agreed that the vehicle for implementation of the agreed reforms is the Garda Commissioner’s Modernisation and Renewal Programme 2016-2021 (MRP).

With more than 80 initiatives and 135 projects, the MRP will strengthen the service An Garda Síochána provides and ensure that they can deal with emerging issues into the future. Due to the scale of the MRP, a phased planning approach is essential. Some initiatives will be implemented in the short to medium term, while others will be implemented over the lifetime of the Programme as they will require a number of years to implement fully. Given the highly complex nature of the MRP, timelines for projects may move for a number of reasons including, for example, extended scope or procurement phase, unforeseen delays or changes to the strategic priorities of the organisation. The Strategic Transformation Office (STO) has been established within An Garda Síochána to oversee governance and delivery of the projects that form the MRP.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda mobility strategy, which aims to ensure that Garda members have remote access to information and technology, is progressing with the recent completion of the overall strategy document. When fully implemented, access by members to 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.

The Enterprise Content Management project is intended to provide a single repository for An Garda Síochána to securely store and manage content. Key features of the solution include:

- management and control of content for all offices across all levels (Regions/Divisions/Districts/Sub-District/Other Offices) of the organisation;

- security controls will ensure audit ability and traceability of all content;

- storage of all data types (e.g. documents, photos, video, audio, etc); and

- ability to store, access and search across all content.

I understand from the Garda authorities that this project will shortly go live in the Eastern Region in the Districts of Mullingar, Athlone and Naas following the completion of training in these areas. The system will then be systematically rolled out nationwide.

The Investigations Management System (IMS) is intended to standardise, digitise and support the management of all investigations arising from a PULSE incident. The system will support the allocation and management of all jobs and allocation of roles and documentation relating to the running and completion of an investigation. It will also maintain a full history of the chain of events for an investigation, information and evidence gathered and decisions made. I am advised that work is progressing in relation to the IMS and that contacts are ongoing with relevant stakeholders.