Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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96. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of cybercrimes recorded in Ireland in 2022; and a breakdown of the type of cybercrimes recorded. [18076/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Cyber-crimes can cause not only devastating financial problems but can also cause mental stress for the victims and their families.

Every person in Ireland deserves to feel safe and to be safe when they conduct their personal business online or over the phone, and so the practice of trying to trick people out of their personal information or hard-earned money is truly disgusting and will not be tolerated.

In particular I would urge anyone conducting sensitive or personal business online or over the phone to be very cautious when providing personal or banking information. Many of the financial institutions have excellent advice for customers on how to be safe online, as does the Citizens’ Information website.

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 operational policing matters. As Minister, I have no role in these matters.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that there is no structured category for Cybercrime on the PULSE Database. I am further informed that Cyber Crime is divided into Cyber-enabled and Cyber-dependent crime.  Cyber-enabled could be almost any crime type, and only an extensive narrative search would provide any data. While some Cyber-dependent crimes may have a specific type the figure provide may not be accurate. I am advised by the Garda authorities that for these reasons, it is not possible to provide a breakdown of cybercrimes as requested by the Deputy.

As the Deputy may be aware the Central Statistics Office (CSO) recently published its recorded crime statistics for Quarter 4 2022 and also cover the 12-month period up to the end of December 2022.  It noted that there were 11,569 Fraud, Deception and Related offences recorded in 2022 and that this was down by 32% or 5,461 incidents from 2021. 

There were also 2,310 recorded incidents of the same category in Q4 2022, and this was down 56% or by 2,987 incidents from a year earlier. According to the CSO this was largely driven by a fall in unauthorised transactions and attempts to obtain personal or banking information online or by phone.

While I welcome these recent statistical decreases I can assure the Deputy that the prevention and investigation of cybercrime, which particularly targets the vulnerable, remains a top priority for the Government and for An Garda Síochána. Budget 2023 provides €2.14 billion in funding to An Garda Síochána. These funds provide for continued investment in the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau (GNCCB).

In terms of awareness raising, I’d like to re-iterate a key message from the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau (GNCCB)

• Be prepared - Know the risks and the benefits of connecting online and keep yourself informed by being cyber aware.
• Be Aware – think before you click, don’t open attachments from unknown sources
• Be suspicious – of unsolicited emails or requests for information. Stop, think, call.
• [Systems and Protections:] Backup separately, Updated securely, Check regularly.
• Don’t mix work and personal networks, activities or devices.
• Report any suspicious or criminal attacks to your local Garda Station
• #ThinkB4Uclick to Stay connected, Stay Secure and above all Stay Safe when online.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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97. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which plans are afoot to increase the number of gardaí to an optimum level, given the obvious need for such measures in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18057/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I can assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and a strengthened, well-resourced Garda Síochána is central to this policy. Since 2015, the government has increased the budget of An Garda Síochána by approximately €672m, or 46%. This has allowed for sustained and ongoing recruitment.

The Deputy will appreciate that the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including responsibility for the recruitment, training and deployment of Garda members. I am assured that the Commissioner keeps the allocation of these resources under continued review, in line with crime and population trends, to ensure their optimum use. 

As of the end of March 2023, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 14,036 Garda members and 3,130 Garda staff whose presence increases the availability of Gardaí to concentrate on frontline policing duties. This represents respective increases of almost 10% and 56% since end December 2015. In addition, since 2015, almost 900 Garda members have been freed up from back office duties to front line policing because of civilianisation.

The Government has provided funding for 1,000 new Gardaí this year and we are seeing more Garda recruits enter Templemore approximately every 11 weeks.

As the Deputy will be aware the most recent An Garda Síochána recruitment campaign closed on 14 April 2023 and will ensure a steady pipeline of new Garda members into 2024.

My Department and I engage regularly with the Garda authorities with a view to ensuring that every possible support is in place to deliver on this level of recruitment.