Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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414. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda stations in the Cork north and west Garda divisions that had access to broadband in each year since 2009. [35474/18]

Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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415. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda stations in the Cork north and west Garda divisions that had access to high-speed broadband in each year since 2009. [35475/18]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 414 and 415 together.

As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is primarily responsible for the effective and efficient use of the resources available to An Garda Síochána. Further, decisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda equipment and resources, including ICT resources and the networking of Garda stations, are matters for the Garda Commissioner in light of availability of resources and his identified operational demands.  As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that broadband networks and services are used to connect stations to the Garda network for official purposes. All of the connections to the Garda stations are managed in Telecommunications Division to ensure the speed of the network connection meets the requirements of the particular location.

I am further informed by the Garda authorities that there are 25 Garda stations in the Cork North Division and 32 in the Cork West Division. I understand that to provide details by year would be a voluminous task and would require a manual check of billing for a ten year period.

However, the Garda authorities have confirmed that as of 2014 in the Cork North Division there were 11 Garda stations connected to the Garda network. Since that time, a further 8 stations have been connected to the Garda network. This leaves 6 Garda stations in this Division which are currently not networked.

In the Cork West Division, the Garda authorities have confirmed that as of 2014 there were 11 Garda stations connected to the Garda network. Since that time a further 14 stations have been connected to the Garda network, leaving 7 Garda stations in this division which are currently not networked.

I am informed by An Garda Síochána that any member attached to a currently unconnected station can access PULSE at their local district station.  Members in non-networked locations can also contact the Garda Information Services Centre (GISC) or an associated networked station if required.

I have further been advised by the Garda authorities that options for providing members attached to the remaining stations not yet networked with local access to Garda ICT services are actively being explored. This includes an assessment of the availability or otherwise of local broadband services and/or the provision of mobile technology.