Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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206. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if the audio recordings in respect of the cancellation of 999 calls and computer-aided despatch are being preserved and all essential data which illustrates the scope and the scale of this matter will be preserved to enable any reviews that are taking place. [51670/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities that all 999/112 emergency calls for service to An Garda Síochána are answered at the four Garda Regional Communications Centres/Rooms. As per Garda  policy and procedures, 999/112 emergency calls for service are recorded and retained for a period of seven years. I am further informed that recorded call data can be extracted and stored separately for the purpose of specific investigations when required. 

As the Deputy will be aware, I consider any inappropriate cancellation of 999 calls a very serious matter. This falls significantly below the high standards that the public expect from the Gardaí and the high standards that An Garda Síochána set for themselves. I am particularly concerned that anyone experiencing domestic abuse, or indeed anyone in a vulnerable position, who summoned the courage to seek assistance may not have received it. 

The Policing Authority was asked by Minister McEntee to oversee the review being carried by An Garda Síochána in relation to this matter, and there have been a number of engagements between the Authority and An Garda Síochána since March of this year.  

I share the Authority and the Commissioner's concern about the continuation of what appear to be inappropriate cancellation and classification of calls since the introduction of the new procedures. These circumstances will of course be considered by the Authority as part of their continuing oversight of the Garda review of this matter, and will be taken into account in the work being carried out by an external policing expert who has been appointed to assist the Authority in this task. I await the outcome of the Authority's work in this regard.

I will of course consider any recommendations the Authority choses to make regarding the future management of these matters.

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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207. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda civilian staff recruited in each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021, by county in tabular form. [51697/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, Garda numbers have increased substantially in recent years, from 12,943 Garda members and 1,999 Garda staff in 2016 to 14,345 Garda members and 3,172 staff at the end of September this year.

I am pleased to note that Budget 2022 commits to the further recruitment of an additional 800 Gardaí next year and to the recruitment of an additional 400 Garda staff.

The below table shows Garda staff recruited from 2018 to date, by each year and by county.

*Figures include open recruitment, internal recruitment and mobility.

It may also be of interest to the Deputy that current and historical data of Garda Staff levels are available on the Department of Justice website at the following address -

Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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208. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the progress made on the development of a new Garda station in Kickham Barracks, Clonmel, County Tipperary; the further engagement that has taken place between her Department, the National Development Finance Agency and the OPW for this development; when is it envisaged that contracts will be awarded for construction; if the commencement date for construction and completion can be provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51698/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is, by law, responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána and for the effective and efficient deployment of Garda resources, including Garda stations.

Following a review of An Garda Síochána's accommodation requirements, the Commissioner decided that a Public Private Partnership (PPP) should proceed to deliver new stations in Macroom and in Clonmel.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that the acquisition of the site for the development of a new station in Clonmel has been completed and that An Garda Síochána has provided a brief of requirements for the new station at Clonmel to the OPW so that it may develop designs for the new station, with associated costs.

The OPW has advised that a Part IX planning application for the new Garda Station in Clonmel was submitted in mid-October 2020 and, following assessment of a number of submissions received by the end of the six-week period, the planning application was granted in early 2021.

There is ongoing engagement between my Department, an Garda Síochána, the OPW and the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) (which is the procuring authority for PPPs) to progress the Garda PPP project, with a view to the tender process for this Garda PPP project commencing in 2022.