Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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576. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of hoax 999 calls received by An Garda Síochána in each of the years 2016 to 2018 in numerical terms and as a percentage of total calls received; and the number of man hours expended on such calls. [35090/19]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the Garda authorities that the current Garda Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) and PULSE systems do not have specific categories that record hoax calls.  As a result, the information being sought by the Deputy is not readily available at this time.

However I would note that the resources provided by Government to An Garda Síochána have reached unprecedented levels, with an allocation for 2019 of €1.76 billion.  Very significant capital investment is also being made, including investment of €342 million in Garda ICT infrastructure between 2016 and 2021.

As part of the ongoing process of upgrade of Garda ICT and in keeping with the recommendations of the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland, I am advised by the Garda authorities that planning is underway for a modern system which will equip Garda regional control and contact centres with up to date systems and technology including a new CAD system integrated with other Garda systems including the Rosters and Duty Management System, telephony and radio, mobile and mapping and so on.

I am further informed that it is intended that a tender for CAD 2 will be advertised in the EU Journal before the end of 2019.  This is in keeping with the target set out in the implementation plan for the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland - "A Policing Service for the Future".

I understand that as well as enhancing Garda capacity as set out above, the new CAD system, once operational, will have the ability to gather the type of information requested by the Deputy as well as many other forms of data in a timely and accurate manner.