Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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509. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of new Garda roads policing vans added to the fleet in the years of 2022 and to date in 2023; and the number of roads policing vans withdrawn during the same period. [6966/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, 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, allocation, and effective and efficient use of Garda vehicles. As Minister, I have no operational role in such matters.

I am advised 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.

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 record funding of over €2 billion for An Garda Síochána, of which €10m has been allocated for investment in the Garda fleet.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that no new Garda roads policing vans were added to the fleet in 2022 up to 31 January 2023, and none were withdrawn during the same period. I am further informed by Gardaí that the purchase and allocation of vehicles is made on the basis of identified operational demands and the availability of resources.

The Deputy may also wish to be aware that An Garda Síochána publishes information on the Garda fleet on their website at:

www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/finance-services/finance-fleet-management.html

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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510. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of full-time civilian cyber security experts working in the Garda national cyber crime bureau in the years of 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [6967/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, 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 management and administration of Garda business, including the distribution and stationing of Garda members throughout the State, including to specialist units within the organisation. As Minister, I have no role in these independent, operational functions.

I have been informed by the Garda authorities that there are currently no full-time civilian cyber security experts working in the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau. Approval has been received for the employment of twenty six (26) Forensic Examiners at Engineering Grade 3 level.

In order to progress the recruitment of these staff, management at the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau is currently working with key stakeholders including the Garda Síochána Human Resource & People Development, Garda Estate Management and Garda ICT. A competition to fill these positions is due to commence in Quarter 1 of this year.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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511. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of stables by location that are available for use by Garda mounted units that are located outside of the Dublin region, in tabular form. [6969/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. The allocation of Garda resources is a matter for the Commissioner and as Minister I have no role in these operational policing matters.

I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda Mounted Unit is based at Áras an Úachtaráin, Phoenix Park, Dublin 8 and has a national remit under the direction and control of Assistant Commissioner, Organised and Serious Crime and the operational control of Detective Chief Superintendent, Operational Support Services. There are currently twelve horses attached to the Garda Mounted Unit.

I have also been informed that the Garda Mounted Unit does not use any specific nominated stables outside Dublin. When the Garda Mounted Unit is deployed outside Dublin and is required to stay overnight, the unit avails of suitable stabling facilities in the location in which they are deployed. This expense is covered by the Garda Vote.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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512. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 283 for 15 December 2022, if he has received the necessary information from the Garda authorities to answer same. [6970/23]

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 and I will write to the Deputy again once the information is to hand.