Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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1238. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to provide, in tabular form, the number of professional youth workers currently employed in each county, as funded under the Garda youth diversion projects programme, with a separate breakdown to cover each Garda district. [39275/23]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, Youth Diversion Projects (YDPs) are community based, multi-agency crime prevention initiatives, which seek to divert young people who have become involved in crime/anti-social behaviour and to support wider preventative work within the community and with families at risk. YDPs act as a vital support to the statutory Garda Youth Diversion Programme.

The objectives of the Youth Diversion Programme are to:

• promote focused and effective interventions to challenge and divert young people from offending behaviour;
• utilise YDP resources in areas of greatest need and to establish effective crime prevention supports in co-operation with other youth service providers nationwide;
• actively promote crime prevention policy through focussed educational interventions influencing positive development of young people towards becoming responsible citizens.

Youth Diversion Projects are co-funded by the Irish Government and European Social Fund as part of the ESF+ Programme 2021-2027.

The Youth Justice Strategy 2021 - 2027 commits to the expansion of the Youth Diversion Projects and establishment of a small number of new Projects, so that every child or young person in the State who could benefit from this service can access it. This includes the establishment of 4 new Projects.

We are also exploring, alongside other statutory bodies that provide youth services, pilots for a number of joint-commissioned Projects. This new type of YDP brings together services from across the public sector to enhance the service provided to young people and to ensure a 'no wrong door' approach. All of these are aimed at ensuring that programmes and interventions are as effectively designed and targeted as possible to support those children and young people (and their families) who experience particular disadvantage and are more at risk with respect to offending behaviour.

It should be noted that YDPs do not operate within defined Garda District/Division boundaries and some overlap of the reach of the Projects between Districts/Divisions may occur. Therefore YDPs based in particular areas may overlap into surrounding Districts/Divisions. As a result, a breakdown by Garda District is unavailable.

The below table shows the number of Whole Time Equivalent Youth Workers in the YDPs by county.

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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1239. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to provide an analysis of data provided by An Garda Síochána for speed monitoring on national slow down day (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39295/23]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I have contacted An Garda Síochána for the information requested by the Deputy, regretfully this information was not available in time. I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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1240. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if funding has been sought by the Garda Commissioner for the purchase of additional high powered unmarked Garda cars. [39301/23]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Government is committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to deliver a modern, fit-for-purpose, policing service. Budget 2023 provides funding in excess of €2 billion for An Garda Síochána, of which €10m has been allocated for investment in the Garda fleet.

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 these independent functions.

I am assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities, to ensure their optimum use.

I am advised that at the 31 August 2023, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 3,467 vehicles attached to the Garda fleet. This represents an increase of over 11% since the end of December 2020.

I am further advised that at the end of August 2023, there were 2,650 cars attached to the Garda fleet, which includes 1,057 marked cars and 1,593 unmarked cars. This represents an increase of 13% since the end of December 2020.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that funding for the continual capital investment in An Garda Síochána Fleet Management has been provided for under the 2021-2030 National Development Plan.

I am further informed that the number and types of vehicles to be procured with this funding is based on identified operational needs, the availability of resources and will be reviewed on a continual basis.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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1241. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if contract for the replacement of aircraft in the Garda air support unit has been put out to tender; and if so, the deadline for accepting tender offers for the provision of new aircraft in the Garda air support unit. [39302/23]

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 procurement, allocation, and effective and efficient use of Garda equipment. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.

The Government is, however, committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to deliver a modern, fit-for-purpose policing service. Budget 2023 provides funding of over €2 billion for An Garda Síochána which includes funding to procure a new fixed wing aircraft.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that Prior Information Notices (PINs) for the procurement of Rotary (helicopter) and Fixed Wing Aircraft were published in December 2022.

I am also informed that following legal advice, for reasons of state security, the tender processes are being progressed pursuant to the derogation set out in Regulation 9(b) of the European Union (Award of Contracts Defence and Security) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 62 of 2012).

I am advised that, as a result, details of the tender process are not available at this stage. I am also advised that details of any contracts awarded will, in due course, be published on completion of the processes.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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1242. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the reason delays have arisen in the resumption of Garda services (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39303/23]

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 decisions related to the Garda Estate. As Minister, I have no role in such matters and am unable to seek to direct, or otherwise influence, the Commissioner in regards to these matters.

I am however advised by the Garda authorities that the proposed works remain under consideration and will be the subject of ongoing review by the Commissioner.