Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 106 to 109, inclusive, together.

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 resources. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.

I can however 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. The 2023 allocation for An Garda Síochána provides funding of over €2.24 billion. The Garda capital budget is an unprecedented €183 million including €100 million for Garda ICT and €11.5 million for Transport & Communications.

The ongoing provision of capital funding on Garda ICT infrastructure 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.

I am advised by An Garda Síochána that as of 30 May, the latest date for when figures are available, there are 134 Roads Policing vehicles, or 40% of the Roads Policing fleet, fitted with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology.

The table below, provided by the Garda Authorities, provides a breakdown of the number of Roads Policing vehicles fitted with ANPR technology in each of the years 2019 - 2023 (to date).

* Figures to 29 May, operational and subject to change.

I am informed that a further 10 vehicles are planned to be fitted with ANPR technology this year, however I am also informed that the majority of Garda vehicles that are not equipped with ANPR predate 2019. As such, fitting the equipment to some of these vehicles may not be cost-efficient.

I understand that around half of the outstanding vehicles are Garda motorcycles. These vehicles are not currently being equipped with ANPR capabilities. I am however advised that there are currently 2ANPR-equipped motorcycles which are testing this capability in this type of vehicle.

The Deputy may be aware the Active Mobility Programme in particular is transforming An Garda Síochána into a digitally enabled police service by giving instant and secure access to a wide-range of Garda information and services regardless of location through mobility devices. This includes an ANPR App for detecting tax and insurance offences, disqualified drivers and PULSE intelligence warnings currently in pilot phase.

At the end of April, the latest date for when figures are available, there were over 12,000 mobility devices issued to frontline Garda members. I understand that of these, 214 members have access to the ANPR App as part of the pilot phase.