Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)
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1137. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the projected cost of every twenty additional community gardaí; the estimated cost of every additional dedicated community sergeant; and the estimated cost of a 20% increase overall. [38034/23]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As you 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. As Minister, I have no role in these independent, operational functions.

I am assured that the Garda Commissioner keeps the allocation of resources under continued review to ensure their optimum use. This takes into account factors including crime trends, operational strategies and local population figures.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that a member of An Garda Síochána is deemed to be a ‘Community Garda’ where that member is allocated to a Community Policing Team (CPT) and is responsible and accountable for applying a problem–solving approach to appropriate crime and policing quality of life issues in a specified geographic area through partnership and engagement.

I am also advised that in some rural areas existing personnel will form CPTs. They will have dual functions as first responders and community policing members. Additionally, CPTs will be augmented by Community Support Gardaí who will perform frontline duties and will be assigned a particular Community Policing Area to support dedicated Community Gardaí.

I understand that each Division will have a number of CPTs assigned to it, consisting of an Inspector, Sergeant and Community Policing Gardaí. CPTs will prioritise engagement with communities for the delivery of long-term sustainable solutions to community needs.

The below table, provided to me by Garda authorities showsthe projected payroll cost of twenty additional community Gardaí, each additional dedicated community sergeant, and a 20% increase overall.

Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)
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1138. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No 870 of 25 July 2023, if she has received the necessary information from the Garda authorities to have this question answered. [38035/23]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business under Section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), which includes all operational policing matters. As Minister, I play no role in these independent functions.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that the table below sets out the amount of revenue from the release of vehicles seized by An Garda Síochána under relevant road traffic legislation for the years requested. It should be noted that information is operational and subject to change.

Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)
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1139. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of public order operators level 2 training courses that were held for gardaí within the Dublin region in 2022 and to-date in 2023, in tabular form. [38036/23]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I have contacted the Garda authorities for the information sought by the Deputy. Regrettably, this information was not available in time. I will write again directly to the Deputy once the information is to hand.

Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)
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1140. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she has received the 2022 Annual Report from An Garda Síochána; and when the report will be published online. [38037/23]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business under Section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005. The Commissioner is also responsible for compiling the annual report under the Act and submitting the report to the independent Policing Authority for their consideration.

I recently received An Garda Síochána's annual report from the Policing Authority. I am currently considering it and will soon bring the report to Government. I will then lay it before the Houses of the Oireachtas.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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1141. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of competitions held for sworn gardaí to apply to join the Garda Band in 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [38078/23]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that there have been no recruitment competitions for the Garda Band in 2022 or to date in 2023.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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1142. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 838 of 25 July 2023, if she has received the necessary information from the Garda authorities to have this parliamentary question answered. [38079/23]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Parliamentary Question 838 of 25 July 2023 requests a breakdown of the details of all new Garda stations built, or existing Garda stations refurbished, since 1 June 2021, in tabular form.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible under the law for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including decisions relating the Garda estate. In addition, the Office of Public Works (OPW) is responsible for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation. As Minister, I have no role in these matters.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that officials in the OPW will provide a comprehensive response to the Deputy's Parliamentary Question directly when this information has been compiled.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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1143. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of full-time analysts at HEO level in the Garda cybercrime unit in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [38080/23]

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 for the recruitment, training and deployment of Garda members and Garda Staff. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.

I can assure the Deputy that the prevention and investigation of cybercrime is a priority for the Government and for An Garda Síochána. Budget 2023 provides over €2 billion in funding to An Garda Síochána. These funds provide for continued investment in the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau (GNCCB), with ongoing expansion of the Bureau.

The Deputy may wish to know that the expansion of the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau is a priority project under A Policing Service for our Future, the implementation plan for the recommendations of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland. The aim of this project is to significantly enhance the capabilities of the Bureau to tackle cybercrime in this jurisdiction.

The Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau is the national Garda unit tasked with the forensic examination of computer media seized during the course of any criminal investigations. The Unit provides for top tier digital forensic services to support organisational investigations.

To be of assistance I sought the information requested by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána and have been advised that there were no full time analysts at HEO level at the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023.

I can inform the Deputy that there are 65 Garda members assigned to the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau, as of the end of July 2023. The work of these Garda members is supported by 6 Garda Staff who are also assigned to the Bureau.

Since 2021, four GNCCB Satellite Hubs have been established and are operational at locations in Galway, Cork, Wexford and Mullingar. These hubs are engaged in cybercrime forensics, investigations and support roles.