Helen McEntee (Meath East, 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 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.

The Garda authorities have advised that An Garda Síochána developed its Connect Digital Strategy in 2019, describing the necessary modernisation of their systems to enable police and support staff to connect to the information they require and to each other. This strategy also outlines how they can connect and collaborate with their partner agencies to achieve An Garda Síochána’s strategic goals and, most importantly, that An Garda Síochána can connect with the public whom they endeavour to keep safe.

The 2020 Data & Technology Visionbuilds on the Connect Digital Strategyto describe how An Garda Síochána will deliver on the 8^thprinciple of the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland – that policing should be “information led”. The Data & Technology Visionhas been agreed with stakeholders such as the Policing Authority and the Implementation Group on Policing Reform. I understand the Data & Technology Vision has been revised in 2023 and is expected to be published in the coming months.

The Deputy will appreciate, projects to modernise the technology available to An Garda Síochána are prioritised and delivered based on their impact and the resources and funding available on a multi-year basis with costs determined following detailed planning and responses to public tender competitions.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy may be aware, one of the recommendations made by the High Level Taskforce established to consider the mental health and addiction challenges of those who come into contact with the criminal justice sector, is the development of a Community Access Support Team or CAST. This recommendation came from the work of a subgroup of the High Level Taskforce that looked at diversion.

The CAST pilot project is expected to commence in late 2023 and I am advised by the Garda Authorities that regular meetings are taking place between An Garda Síochána, the HSE and Limerick City and County Council and work to progress the pilot is advancing.

In response to the Deputy's specific question about the cost of the CAST pilot project for An Garda Síochána, I can advise the pilot is yet to go live and that the involvement of An Garda Síochána in any task-force or multi-agency project is an operational matter for the Garda Commissioner. As such I am not in a position to provide information on the costs arising for An Garda Síochána.