Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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762. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of new Garda cars and vans allocated to each Garda District in Dublin in 2021 and to date in 2022; and the number of Garda cars and vans withdrawn from each Garda District of Dublin in 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14543/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including the purchase and distribution of Garda resources, including Garda vehicles. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.

I am advised, however, that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review to ensure their optimum use in light of identified operational needs and emerging crime trends.

I have been provided with the information contained in the table below by the Garda authorities, outlining that as of 11 March 2022, two vehicles have been allocated to the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) this year with a total of 12 vehicles withdrawn. As outlined in the second table, a total of 65 vehicles were allocated with 44 vehicles withdrawn in 2021.

DMR Districts Allocations and Removals 2022 as at 11th March 2022

DMR Districts Allocations and Removals 2021

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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763. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí who have attended a human trafficking training course in 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14544/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible under Section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) for the management and administration of Garda business, including the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff. As Minister, I play no role in these independent functions.

I have been advised by the Garda authorities that no specialised human trafficking training was delivered in 2021 or to date in 2022, owing to restrictions in the availability of the Garda College, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A review of specialist Divisional Protective Service Units (DPSUs) training is presently underway, which is intended to be rolled out in 2022. This training incorporates human trafficking among other modules such as Sexual Crime Investigation, Victims Engagement, Domestic Abuse Intervention, Online Child Exploitation and Investigation Sex Offender Management. The content and mechanics of this training are currently being developed with continued liaison between the Garda National Protective Services Bureau (GNPSB) and the Garda College.

Additionally, I am advised that human trafficking training is delivered within the Children First module, as part of Phase I of Garda training within the BA in Applied Policing programme. Children First Training is now completed by way of a two-day workshop and it is mandatory for all Trainee Gardaí to receive this training. Due to Covid-19 restrictions and closures of the Garda College to comply with public health guidelines, delivery of this training was not undertaken in 2020. The completion date of the course for each Garda trainee intake impacted by the closures and subsequent intakes is outlined in the table below.