Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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1223. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons arrested and charged with dangerous driving within the Kildare Garda division in 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [38945/23]

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

I am advised that the information requested by the Deputy is contained in the below tables, which have been provided by the Garda authorities.

Yearly breakdown of the number of arrests for dangerous driving in Kildare Division.

* 2023 figures cover the period from 1 January 2023 to 6 September 2023

Figures are based on incidents reported from 1 January 2022 to 6 September 2023, inclusive. All information contained in this report is based upon operational data from the PULSE system as was available on 6 September 2023 and is liable to change. Crime counting rules have been applied.

To note, arrests for Dangerous Driving Causing Death or Serious Bodily Harm are not included.

Yearly breakdown of the number of summonses and charges created for the offence of dangerous driving.

* 2023 figures cover the period from 1 January 2023 to 6 September 2023

Figures are based on charges and summonses created from 1 January 2022 to 6 September 2023, inclusive. All information contained in this report is based upon operational data from the PULSE system as was available on 6 September 2023 and is liable to change.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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1224. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of fixed penalty notices that gardaí within the Kildare division issued for driving a vehicle while holding a mobile phone in the years of 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [38946/23]

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, which includes the enforcement of road traffic legislation and the recording of information on Garda IT systems. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.

However, to be of assistance I sought the information requested by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána and have been advised that the below table outlines the yearly breakdown of the Fixed Charge Notices issued for the offence of driving while holding a mobile phone in Kildare division.

Figures are based on incidents which occurred from 1 January 2021 to 31 August 2023, inclusive. All information contained in this report is based upon operational data from the FCPS system as was available on 5 September 2023 and is liable to change.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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1225. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if funding has been secured to replace the two patrol boats currently within the Garda water unit. [38947/23]

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 the purchase, allocation, and effective and efficient use of Garda vehicles. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that the Garda Water Unit is a national resource based at Santry Garda Station, Dublin Metropolitan Region and Garycastle, Athlone, Co. Westmeath and is under the direction and control of Assistant Commissioner, Organised and Serious Crime and the strategic control of Detective Chief Superintendent, Operational Support Services and the operational control of Superintendent, Operational Support Services.

The unit provides a full dive and marine capability throughout the State and responds to requests for assistance from within An Garda Síochána and relevant agencies.

The unit presently has two patrol boats, four rigid inflatable boats (RIB’s) and six inflatable boats. The boats allocated to the unit meet the present requirements of the Garda Water Unit to date and the equipment fitted on the boats is regularly serviced and upgraded when necessary.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that there are currently no plans to replace the Garda Patrol Boats.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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1226. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if a fresh new recruitment campaign will be launched before the end of the year for persons to apply to join An Garda Síochána. [38948/23]

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, including the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended). As Minister I have no role in the Garda recruitment process.

The Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs, which is reflected in an allocation of in excess of €2.14 billion under Budget 2023.

This level of funding will provide a steady pipeline of new Gardaí in the coming years, and the Government will continue to work with the Commissioner to ensure that members of An Garda Síochána are fully supported.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that numbers in Templemore continue to increase, with intakes entering the Garda College approximately every 3 months. 135 trainees entered the training college in February and another 154 in May. Another class of 174, the largest class since the onset of the COVID pandemic, entered the college at the end of July, continuing the building momentum in recruitment.

The Commissioner has indicated his intention that annual recruitment campaigns will be held. As the Deputy will be aware, the most recent campaign was held earlier this year and closed in April.

This year’s campaign, which was shorter in duration than the 2022 campaign, attracted almost 5,000 applicants. This level of interest is in line with 2019, the last pre-COVID recruitment campaign, and demonstrates the demand to join An Garda Síochána is as strong as ever.

Engagement is ongoing between An Garda Síochána, the Public Appointments Service and my Department in relation to the next Garda Trainee recruitment campaign, however no date has been set for the launch of this campaign at present.

Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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1228. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if Santry Garda station is to be included in the Garda Capital Investment Plan 2022 – 2030. [39007/23]

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.