Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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160. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 1185 of 11 September 2023, if she has received the necessary information from the Garda authorities. [42907/23]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy's question of 11 September 2023 asked for the Garda stations that currently have a defibrillator located within the station, in tabular form.

I sought the information requested from the Garda authorities, and I have been advised by them that AEDs (Automated External Defibrillators) installed at Garda Stations are funded and maintained by third party organisations, and managed at a local level.

The Garda authorities have also advised that they conducted a survey of Garda stations, and 36 stations have confirmed that they have a defibrillator installed within the station. These are listed in the table below.

I can also advise the Deputy that the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly TD has stated that an enhanced community response is critical to improving cardiac arrest survival rates. This is recognised in the National Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Strategy (OHCA) “Putting Survival at the Heart of the Community” (2019).

According to Minister Donnelly the Governance Implementation Group for the Strategy have agreed their Priority Action Plan for 2023, and have continued a strong emphasis on strengthening the links of the Chain of Survival in the Irish community.

These actions include the training, equipping and deploying of high numbers of uniformed first responders including members of An Garda Síochána, retained fire services, GPs and off-duty ambulance staff.

I understand that the Implementation Group also has a specific aim to implement a National Ambulance Service (NAS), national Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Registry which is mapped to the NAS dispatch system, and a supporting application for dispatching first responders to the scene of an emergency.

I also understand that work is in progress on developing the AED Registry, with specific emphasis on ensuring the cyber safety of the NAS dispatch system.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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161. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda public order unit vans allocated to each Garda division as of 28 September 2023, in tabular form. [42908/23]

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 of over €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 such matters.

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 by the Garda authorities that the table below sets out the number of Public Order Unit vans attached to the Garda fleet on 30 September 2023, the latest date for when figures are available. I am advised that for security reasons figures are provided by Region and not by Division as requested.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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162. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 719 of 20 September 2023, if she has received the necessary information from the Garda authorities. [42909/23]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I understand that Parliamentary Question No.719 of 20 September 2023 soughtthe number of Gardaí and full-time civilian staff that are based in each of the four Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau satellite hubs as of 14 September 2023, in tabular form.

I am advised by the Garda authorities, that as of the end of August 2023, there were 65 Garda members assigned to the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau. These Garda members are joined by 6 Garda Staff who are also assigned to the Bureau.

The Bureau is situated within offices at Walter Scott House, Dublin and at four hub locations at Anglesea Street, Cork; North West Regional Headquarters, Galway; Mullingar and Wexford Town.

The table below shows the staffing levels across each of the satellite hubs as of 14 September 2023.

You may also be interested to know that earlier this year a competition was held through the Public Appointment Services for the employment of Digital Forensic Examiners at Engineering Grade III and it is anticipated the successful candidates will commence employment at the Bureau throughout Q4 2023.