Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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139. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the amount spent by An Garda Síochána in updating the Garda computer aided design system in 2017, 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46739/19]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The resources provided by Government to An Garda Síochána have reached unprecedented levels, with an allocation for 2019 of €1.76 billion, as well as capital investment amounting to €92 million. I am pleased to have secured an overall increase of €122 million to increase An Garda Síochána’s budget for 2020 to an unprecedented €1.882 billion for next year in addition to €116million in capital investment. 

In total, €342 million is being invested in Garda ICT infrastructure between 2016 and 2021.

Decisions in relation to the provision, allocation and management of Garda equipment and resources are matters for the Garda Commissioner. As Minister, I have no role in such matters. I understand, however, that a wide range of programmes are being pursued with the benefit of the ongoing substantial investment in Garda ICT infrastructure.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the computer aided dispatch (CAD) system currently in use in An Garda Síochána was originally installed in the Dublin Metropolitan Region in 1987 and that the system was substantially upgraded in 2010.  I am informed that the CAD system is fully operational and a current support and maintenance agreement is in place with the system supplier.

CAD is a key enabler for the Garda Control Room Strategy, under which An Garda Síochána is streamlining the number of control rooms, managing first contact and incident response nationwide.  The system supports regional control rooms serving the Dublin Metropolitan Region and Eastern Region, the Western and Northern Region and the Southern Region, with the South Eastern Region planned for go-live later this year.

In line with the Implementation Plan for the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland, 'A Policing Service for the Future', it is planned to procure a new CAD system to support the regional control room structure and replace the existing system. It will incorporate the latest control room technology, including mapping, mobile computing, automatic vehicle and person location, and digital radio and telephone integration.

I understand that An Garda Síochána is working to progress the matter, however, as the Deputy will appreciate, so as not to compromise the procurement process of the new CAD system, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on what is a live procurement process.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that they are preparing information in relation to the years 2017 and 2018 and I will provide that information to the Deputy once received.