Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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603. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of full-time civilian malware analysts working in the Garda cyber crime unit as of 31 December 2020 and 4 October 2022, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50082/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, which includes decisions on the deployment of personnel among the various Garda Divisions. As Minister, I have no role in these matters.

The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs, with the unprecedented allocation provided in Budget 2023 of €2.14 billion.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that at 31 August 2022, the latest date for which figures are available, there were74 Garda members and 6 Garda staff assigned to the Cyber Crime unit. I am further informed by the Garda authorities that these do not include civilian malware analysts but that approval has been received for the employment of 26 Forensic Analysts at Engineering Grade 3 level.

I am advised that in order to progress the recruitment of these analysts, management at the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau is currently working with key stakeholders including An Garda Síochána Human Resource and People Development, Garda Estate Management and Garda ICT.

For the Deputy's information, detailed statistics on Garda workforce numbers are published on my Department's website and can be accessed using the following link:

gov.ie/en/publication/bd777-an-garda-siochana-your-police-service-some-facts-and-figures/