Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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706. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the estimated cost of training 100 additional gardaí per annum. [34046/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I have contacted the Garda authorities for the information requested by the Deputy, however this information was not available. I will write to the Deputy again once the information is to hand. 

Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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707. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the estimated cost of equipping an additional 100 gardaí per annum. [34047/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I have contacted the Garda authorities for the information requested by the Deputy, however this information was not available in time. I will write to the Deputy once this information is to hand. 

Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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708. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the estimated cost of training an additional 1,000 gardaí in the competency-based driver level 2 course per annum. [34048/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána, including the training of personnel. As Minister, I have no direct role in the matter. 

The table below, furnished to me by the Garda authorities, provides a breakdown of the costs associated with training an additional 1,000 Gardaí in CBD level 2. 

Competency-based driver level 2 course

I am advised that CBD Level 2 training consists of the one day online learning and ten day in-person driving instruction.

One day Online Learning / Instruction

Proprietary online resources access and certification is €37 per Garda in training.  This would amount to 37,000 for 1,000 training places. 

Ten day in-person driving instruction

This segment of training takes place in driver training centres in the Garda College and the Dublin Metropolitan Region.  I am advised that the Garda/Instructor ratio is 2:1 for this segment of the course.  

It is worth noting that the costings do not include potential travel expenses that participants may incur travelling from various locations throughout the country to the training centre, however, 

Gardaí are entitled to subsistence when working away from their station, e.g over night stays and to cover the costs of meals etc. 

Each instructor requires the use of a vehicle for the duration of the course, with each vehicle accumulating approximately 2,000 km’s per course. The cost of associated fuel and maintenance is not included.

Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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709. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the estimated cost of providing an additional two members of An Garda Síochána to Garda divisional protective services units per annum. [34049/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the national roll out of Divisional Protective Service Units (DPSUs) was an action under both the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland and in Supporting a Victim's Journey, and it has been completed.

There is now a Divisional Protective Services Unit (DPSU) established in every Garda division across the country. This ensures that when vulnerable victims of crimes such as domestic abuse and sexual violence present to Gardaí, they are met with a consistently high standard of specialist, sensitive, professional and expert assistance. 

This specialisation will ensure that when victims of domestic and sexual violence present to Gardaí, at perhaps their most vulnerable moment, they are met with professional and expert assistance.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that the estimated annual payroll cost for two additional Garda in a DPSU is approximately €124,000.

I am further advised that the response is based on basic annual salary costs of a detective Garda on the midpoint of the current Garda rank pay scale and also includes fixed allowances which the member is entitled to. An estimate of employer’s PRSI is also included.

Allowances pertaining to unsocial hours and any potential overtime payments in excess of standard briefing time are not included. Non-pay costs are not included in the estimated figures.

Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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710. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the estimated cost of providing two crime prevention officers per annum, including all associated costs such as administrative and technological support. [34050/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I have contacted the Garda authorities for the information requested by the Deputy, however this information was not available in time. I will write to the Deputy once this information is to hand. 

Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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711. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the estimated cost of GDPR and data protection training for at least two members of An Garda Síochána per district headquarters. [34052/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I have contacted the Garda authorities for the information requested by the Deputy, however this information was not available in time. I will write to the Deputy once this information is to hand. 

Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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712. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the estimated cost of updating the entire An Garda Síochána ICT structures, including all hardware and software. [34053/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs, with the unprecedented allocation provided in Budget 2022 of over €2 billion. Since 2016 the budget for An Garda Síochána has increased by approximately €500m, or 33%.

The 2022 allocation includes provision for a capital budget of some €147 million encompassing an Garda Síochána’s ICT and Building Programme and ongoing investment in the organisation’s transport fleet.  Budget 2022 also provides an additional €10.5 million for Garda operational expenditure – including provision for new mobile devices.

The ongoing provision of capital funding on Garda ICT infrastructure will support both existing and new ICT systems and develop them further. This investment will support the ongoing business and operational requirements of An Garda Síochána enabling them to deploy the latest, cutting edge technologies in the fight against crime.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) and is also the Accounting Officer for the Garda Vote under the provisions of the Act. 

The Garda authorities have advised that An Garda Síochána developed its Connect Digital Strategy in 2019, describing the necessary modernisation of their systems to enable police and support staff to connect to the information they require and to each other. This strategy also outlines how they can connect and collaborate with their partner agencies to achieve An Garda Síochána’s strategic goals and, most importantly, that An Garda Síochána can connect with the public whom they endeavour to keep safe. 

The 2020 Data & Technology Vision builds on the Connect Digital Strategy to describe how An Garda Síochána will deliver on the 8th  principle of the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland – that Policing should be “information led”. The Data & Technology Vision has been agreed with stakeholders such as the Policing Authority and the Implementation Group on Policing Reform.

Projects to modernise the technology available to An Garda Síochána are prioritised and delivered based on their impact and the resources and funding available on a multi-year basis with costs determined following detailed planning and responses to public tender competitions. 

As the Deputy will appreciate funding for the Garda Vote, of which ICT programmes are a component, is agreed through the standard Budgetary process including within the capital provisions at Vote Group level provided in the National Development Plan.