Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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1110. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the amount spent on purchasing mountain bikes for An Garda Síochána in 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [30729/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible under the law for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including any decisions in relation to the purchase and allocation of Garda equipment and vehicles. As Minister for Justice, I have no direct role in these matters.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that An Garda Síochána has not purchased mountain bikes during 2020 and to date in 2021.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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1111. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of staff nationally involved in investigating material on mobile telephones, computers and so on, relating to child sexual offences; and the qualifications needed for such work. [30730/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 as amended, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. Further, the allocation of Garda resources is made in light of identified operational demands. This includes deployment of personnel among the various Garda Divisions and units. As Minister, I have no direct role in the matter.

As the Deputy may be aware, the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau is the national unit responsible for digital forensics in An Garda Síochána, which includes the forensic examination of computer media seized or surrendered in criminal and disciplinary investigations, including those involving child exploitation offences. I am advised by the Garda authorities that forensic examiners undergo extensive training in cyber forensics including methodology, examination tool sets and evidential data interpretation in line with international best practices.

I am informed that all Garda Síochána Districts have the capability to forensically examine mobile phones and associated media seized or surrendered during the course of criminal investigations. I am advised that mobile device examiners within An Garda Síochána undergo dedicated training and are provided with the necessary equipment and tool sets to complete this function. Mobile device examiners are supported in their role by experts attached to Garda ICT and for more complex cases, the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau.

I am also informed that the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau has fifty-one Garda personnel attached to its National Bureau in Harcourt Square and four satellite hubs in Cork, Galway, Mullingar and Wexford, engaged in cybercrime forensics, investigations and support roles.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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1112. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí by rank attached to Meath roads policing unit as of 1 June 2020 and 1 June 2021, in tabular form. [30731/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Commissioner is responsible by law for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. The Commissioner is also responsible for the allocation and efficient use of Garda resources including the deployment of personnel. As Minister, I have no direct role in those matters. I am assured, however, that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities, to ensure their optimum use.

I am informed that the Commissioner established the Garda National Roads Policing Bureau (GNRPB) to ensure a consistent approach to road safety and enforcement of road traffic legislation across the country. This is achieved through coordination of enforcement and development of policy based on research and analysis of statistics and by engaging in campaigns in partnership with other State agencies.

I also understand that in addition to the roads policing units focusing on the road traffic offences of speeding, seatbelts, mobile phones and driving under the influence, they also focus on crime prevention and crime detection. Divisional roads policing units work closely with other Divisional units to target known criminals and to disrupt their activities through strict enforcement of road traffic legislation.

It is also important to note that road traffic legislation is enforced as part of the day-to-day duties of all members of An Garda Síochána, as well as through specific enforcement operations.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that the strength of roads policing units on the 30 April 2021, the latest date for which figures are available, stood at 739. I am further advised that 2 Sergeants and 16 Gardaí were assigned to roads policing duty in the Meath Division as at 30 April 2021. In addition, there was 1 Superintendent attached to the Eastern Region and 1 Chief Superintendent, 2 Superintendents, 2 Inspectors and 1 Sergeant attached to the Garda National Roads Policing Bureau in Garda HQ.

Detailed information in relation to Garda numbers is available on the Department of Justice website. This information is updated every month with the latest data provided by An Garda Síochána at the following link:

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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1113. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of civilian cyber-security experts employed by An Garda Síochána currently attached to the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [30732/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible by law for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. Further, the allocation of Garda resources is made in light of identified operational demands. This includes deployment of Garda Staff among the various Garda Divisions and units. As Minister, I have no direct role in the matter.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau (GNCCB) currently have a number of supporting Garda staff to assist with the operations and administration of the Bureau. This staffing allocation is expanding in line with the recommendations of the Report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland.

I am further advised that a business case has recently been submitted for an additional twenty-five Garda staff in supporting roles in GNCCB. This will enhance the capacity and expertise of the Bureau, with the intention for twenty of these Garda staff being employed as digital forensic analysts to support digital forensics and cybercrime investigations conducted at the Bureau.

I am informed by An Garda Síochána that the following tables provide the breakdown of the numbers of Garda staff and Garda members attached to GNCCB at end 2019 and 2020 and at end May 2021.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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1114. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of civilians holding the position of property and exhibits manager in An Garda Síochána; the Garda stations in which the civilians employed as such are based; and if appropriate training has been provided. [30733/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Commissioner is responsible under the law for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes human resource matters relating to the training, development and deployment of Garda members and staff. As Minister, I have no direct role in such decisions.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that under the Garda workforce modernisation initiative, over 797 Garda members have been released from posts not requiring Garda powers or expertise and their duties reassigned to Garda staff. This has in turn facilitated the redeployment of Garda members to operational duties.

Under this initiative, a number of posts were examined for suitability for assignment to Garda staff, including the property and exhibits management posts. On 27 November 2019, the policy and procedure documentation for the Property and Exhibits Management System part 2 (PEMS 2) was published in a Headquarters Directive and the Garda College commenced training Garda staff in property and exhibits management functions. The first Garda College course commenced in the week beginning 3 February 2020.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that there are currently 27 staff members recorded as property and exhibits manager officers across the country. For operational reasons the Garda authorities do not disclose the locations of these stores.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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1115. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of full-time forensic speech analysts working in An Garda Síochána in each of the past three years in tabular form. [30734/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I am informed by An Garda Síochána that the organisation does not employ forensic speech analysts but engages appropriate external expertise and services as required.