Written answers

Tuesday, 21 September 2021

Department of Justice and Equality

An Garda Síochána

Photo of Jim O'CallaghanJim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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497. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of bench warrants currently outstanding in the Garda B and C Districts within the Dublin Metropolitan Region; the number of those warrants outstanding per district that are in excess of minimum of 12 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45050/21]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, difficulties in relation to the execution of warrants, including bench warrants, are a long-standing issue for many police services around the world; notably relating to persons actively seeking to evade detection and where limited identification information might be available to support enforcement. I am assured, however, that An Garda Síochána execute warrants as expeditiously as possible, giving priority to the execution of warrants relating to serious crimes.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the below table shows the count of outstanding bench warrants for the Districts requested by the Deputy and those outstanding for a period of 12 months or longer.

These figures were gathered from PULSE as of 16 September 2021 and are operational and subject to change.

District
Outstanding
12 Months or Older
Pearse Street 739 552
Store Street 1905 1625

Photo of Jim O'CallaghanJim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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498. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda cars and vans attached to each Garda district within the Dublin Metropolitan Region as of 15 September 2021; if this number will be further increased before the end of 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45051/21]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather 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. In addition, the allocation of Garda resources is a matter for the Commissioner, in light of identified operational demands. This includes responsibility for the allocation of Garda vehicles. As Minister, I have no role in these decisions. 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 by the Garda authorities that at 31 August 2021, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 3,228 vehicles attached to the Garda fleet. This represents an increase of over 7% since 31 August 2020 when there were 3,015 vehicles attached to the Garda fleet.

The following table, furnished to me by the Garda authorities, shows the number of vehicles attached to each Garda District within the DMR at 31 August, the latest date for which figures are available.

Division/District Cars Vans 4x4 Others Total
BLACKROCK-W 33 4 1 0 38
DUNLAOGHAIRE-F 37 9 0 1 47
DMR EAST 70 13 1 1 85
BALBRIGGAN-Y 13 1 0 0 14
BALLYMUN 32 7 1 1 41
COOLOCK-R 23 2 0 0 25
RAHENY-J 22 3 0 0 25
DMR NORTH 90 13 1 1 105
BRIDEWELL 10 3 0 0 13
FITZGIBBON STREET 22 5 2 0 29
STORE STREET 35 5 1 1 42
DMR NORTH CENTRAL 67 13 3 1 84
CRUMLIN-G 20 8 0 0 28
TALLAGHT-M 32 6 1 1 40
TERENURE-P 19 2 1 0 22
DMR SOUTH 71 16 2 1 90
DONNYBROOK-E 18 7 0 0 25
KEVIN STREET-A 32 5 0 1 38
PEARSE STREET-B 18 6 0 0 24
DMR SOUTH CENTRAL 68 18 0 1 87
BLANCHARDSTOWN-K 42 6 0 1 49
CLONDALKIN-L 23 4 0 0 27
LUCAN-Q 19 3 0 5 27
DMR WEST 84 13 0 6 103

*The category 'others' refers to MPV, SUV, Minibus or Prisoner Conveyance Vehicles

Photo of Jim O'CallaghanJim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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499. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of dogs currently in the Garda dog unit; the number of horses currently in the Garda mounted unit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45052/21]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes the allocation of resources among Garda units. As Minister for Justice, I have no direct role in these matters.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that there are currently 27 dogs attached to the Garda Dog Unit and 13 horses attached to the Garda Mounted Unit.

Photo of Jim O'CallaghanJim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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500. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardai who successfully completed the van personnel carrier course in 2020 and to date in 2021; the duration of this course; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45055/21]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes the arrangement of training courses for Garda members. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the aim of the Garda van personnel carrier course is to upskill operational Garda members in the driving of vans and personnel carriers which contain more than 8 seats. I am further informed by the Garda authorities that personnel carriers are used to transport operational members between points of duty and public events and public order situations.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that 21 Garda members successfully completed the van personnel carrier course in 2020 and 6 Garda members have successfully completed the course in 2021 to date. I am further advised that the course is 4 days in duration.

Photo of Jim O'CallaghanJim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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501. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí, by rank, attached to the diversion protective services unit in the Cavan-Monaghan, Sligo-Leitrim and the Wexford Garda division as of 13 September 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45056/21]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005, 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 specialist units. As Minister for Justice, I have no role in these matters.

I am assured, however, that Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of policing priorities and crime trends, to ensure their optimum use.

I am further advised by the Garda authorities that Divisional Protective Services Units provide a best practice service in relation to all domestic abuse incidents and interventions and are responsible for the quality and conduct of their investigations, including the regular updating of victims.

For the Deputy's information, the following table, which has been provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of Gardaí attached to Divisional Protective Services Units in Cavan-Monaghan, Sligo-Leitrim and Wexford at 20 September 2021.

Division
Inspector
Detective Sergeant
Sergeant
Detective Gardaí
Gardaí
Cavan/Monaghan 1 (Part time) 2 - 10 -
Sligo/Leitrim 1 (Part time) 1 - 5 -
Wexford - - 2 - 10

Photo of Cormac DevlinCormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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502. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of bicycles and electric bicycles assigned to the Dublin Metropolitan Region east Garda division; the number of new bicycles and electric bicycles assigned in each of the years 2016 to 2020, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45073/21]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes the distribution of resources across the various Garda Divisions. As Minister for Justice, I have no direct role in this matter.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) East Garda Division currently has use of 18 mountain bikes and that no new bikes have been allocated to this Division in the years 2016 to 2020. I am further advised that there are currently no electric bicycles allocated to the DMR East Garda Division.

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