Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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183. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide an update on the recruitment of new gardaí with respect to increasing diversity and gender balance in the force. [4907/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I have contacted An Garda Síochána for the information requested by the Deputy. Regrettably this information was not available in time. I will write to the Deputy again once the information is to hand. 

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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184. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of new Garda vehicles allocated to the Garda Technical Bureau in 2022; the number of vehicles withdrawn from the Technical Bureau during the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4982/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I can assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to deliver a modern, fit-for-purpose, policing service. Budget 2023 provides funding of €2.14 billion for An Garda Síochána, of which €10m has been allocated for investment in the Garda fleet.

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, allocation, and effective and efficient use of Garda vehicles. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.

I am however assured 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. 

The table below, provided to me by the Garda authorities, outlines the number of vehicles allocated to and removed from the Technical Bureau in 2022.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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185. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of each category of public order training courses that were held in either the Garda training college or Garda headquarters in 2022; the number of gardaí per course; the duration of each course, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4983/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the Garda authorities that the table below sets out the Public Order Training delivered by the Garda College in 2022:

This Public Order Training was delivered in Mullingar.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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186. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of vehicles seized by Garda authorities in the J district for having no insurance in 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4984/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, 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, including the enforcement of road traffic legislation. As Minister for Justice, I have no direct role in these matters.

I have been provided by the Garda authorities with the table below, outlining a yearly breakdown of the number of incidents where a vehicle was seized under section 41 of the Road Traffic Act in the J District, for the offence of driving without insurance, in 2022, and up to 30 January 2023. 

*Figures are based on incidents occurring from 01/01/2022 to 30/01/2023, inclusive. 

All information contained in this report is based upon operational data from the Pulse system as was available on 31/01/2023, and is liable to change.