Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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548. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of WTE civilian Garda staff, by grade, working in each divisional protective service unit as of 4 December 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54896/23]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I am committed to providing An Garda Síochána with the resources they need to make sure communities around Ireland are safe and feel safe. This is reflected in the unprecedented allocation of €2.3 billion in Budget 2024 - a 23% increase since 2020, allowing for sustained investment in recruitment, equipment and technology.

As the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who has responsibility to carry on and manage and control generally the administration and business of the Garda Síochána, including by arranging for the recruitment, training and appointment of its members and civilian staff.

As of the end of October, 3,130 Garda staff were working alongside Garda members and carrying out vital roles to increase availability of Gardaí to focus on front-line duties. The significant increase in Garda staff has enabled 900 Gardaí to be freed up for front line duties.

I have been informed by the Garda authorities that Garda staff are assigned at a Divisional level to Crime, Community Engagement, Performance Assurance or Business Services. As such, Garda staff are not recorded as being individually assigned to Divisional Protective Services Units which are part of the Crime functional area.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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549. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of e-bikes currently in the Garda fleet; if this number will be further increased during 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54897/23]

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 provision of Garda equipment to the Garda fleet and the operational deployment of Garda resources. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.

I am advised that as of 18 August, the latest date for which figures are currently available, there are six e-bikes being piloted in the Dublin Metropolitan Region North Central and South Central Divisions. Further procurement will be an operational decision for the Commissioner and his management team.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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550. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of competitions held for sworn gardaí to apply to join divisional roads policing units in 2022 and to-date in 2023, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54898/23]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, 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. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.

I am, however, assured that the Commissioner keeps the allocation of these resources under continued review, in line with crime and population trends, to ensure their optimum use.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that the table below sets out the number of Divisional Roads Policing competitions held in 2022 and 2023.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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551. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 868 of 7 November 2023, if she has received the necessary information from the Garda authorities to have this question answered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54899/23]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I understand that Parliamentary Question No. 868 of 7 November 2023 refers to the number of Gardaí, by rank, attached to the Garda water unit as of 31 October 2023; and the corresponding figures as of 31 January 2022, in tabular form.

The unprecedented allocations of over €2 billion to An Garda Síochána in both 2023 and 2024, up 23 per cent since 2020, demonstrates the Government's commitment to ensuring the Gardaí have provision for the equipment, technology, facilities, fleet and personnel it needs to carry out vital policing work. This included provision for high visibility policing through the recruitment of between 800 and 1,000 additional Garda trainees.

As you will be aware, by law the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration of An Garda Síochána, including the distribution of Garda members between the various Garda Units. As Minister, I have no role in these operational matters.

I am advised, by the Garda authorities, that when consideration is given to the allocation of resources (including newly attested Probationer Gardaí, personnel being allocated to specialist units, e.g. Roads Policing, Community Policing, Divisional Protective Services Units, Divisional Drug Units, etc.) and in facilitating transfers of personnel to/from any Division, account is given to commitments and undertakings outlined in the Annual Policing Plan and priorities as determined in delivering ‘A Policing Service for The Future’.

Also taken into account in the context of the requirements of all Garda Divisions nationwide are local and national crime trends and workloads; policing arrangements and operational strategies; minimum establishment statistics; local population and trends, geographical area and size; transfer applications, including welfare/personnel issues and concerns.

I am further advised to ensure the continued level of delivery of policing services within Garda Divisions, local and Senior Garda Management are also consulted during the allocation of personnel and are responsible for the specific deployment/assignment of duties being undertaken at Divisional level. The situation remains closely monitored by the Garda Senior Leadership Team, particularly in view of commitments to the continued roll-out of the Operating Model of policing at Divisional level to ensure optimum use of all Garda Resources in providing the best possible Garda service to the community.

I am informed that as of 31 January 2022, there were 17 Garda members attached to the Garda Water Unit. As at of 31 October 2023, there were 15 Garda members assigned to the Unit. These figures include the ranks of Sergeant and Garda.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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552. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of cases dealt with by the Garda computer crime unit in 2022 and to date in 2023; the number of these cases that have been successfully completed in 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54900/23]

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 the direction of investigative priorities of the service. As Minister, I have no role in the investigative process.

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 shows the number of cases closed by the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau (GNCCB) in 2022 and to date in 2023.

*Figures as of 8 December 2023

I am further advised that it is not possible to provide accurate information regarding the numbers of cases in process during 2022 and to date in 2023.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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553. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if funding has been sought by the Garda Commissioner for the purchase of water cannons for use by An Garda Síochána during major public order and violent disorder events. [54901/23]

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 the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), including decisions related to the operational equipment and fleet needs for the service. As Minister I have no role in these independent functions.

I can however assure you that I am committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs.

I welcome the Commissioner’s comments to the Justice Committee, stating his intention to submit a business case for the purchase of two water cannon for An Garda Síochána. While the Commissioner has not as yet submitted a business case for the acquisition of water cannon once he does, it would be my intention to progress the matter as quickly as possible.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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554. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if the contracts for the provision of new aircraft and helicopters for the Garda air support unit have been signed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54903/23]

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 advised by the Garda authorities that the contracts for a Rotary (helicopter) and Fixed Wing Aircraft have been signed, and I am further advised that it is envisaged that they will become operational over the next 12-18 months. These major investments will support the Air Support Unit in its important work to combat criminal activity.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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555. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if Coolock Garda station is included in the Garda Capital Investment Programme 2022-2027; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54904/23]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Under the National Development Plan, the Government is committed to investing significant levels of capital funding into An Garda Síochána to deliver a Garda station modernisation and refurbishment programme, to delivering strategic ICT and digitalisation projects, and to providing a modern, fit for purpose Garda fleet. This is a core part of the Government’s Plan to build Stronger, Safer Communities.

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 matters relating to 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 direct role in such matters.

The development of a substantial new Garda station and facilities on Dublin City Council lands at the corner of the R139 and Malahide Road at Northern Cross is considered a strategic priority project by An Garda Síochána and has the full support of Government.

The Office of Public Works (OPW) are leading on this project and have advised that there is ongoing and positive engagement between the OPW and Dublin City Council, in consultation with An Garda Síochána, on the development of the site at Northern Cross.

I am also advised that the OPW have undertaken a high level impact study of the site and a detailed brief of requirements is being developed with An Garda Síochána.

The Northern Cross project will comprise of a series of facilities, including a replacement facility for Coolock Garda Station, and is one of the most significant Garda Building investments in the National Development Plan 2021 – 2030 and I very much look forward to its development.