Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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579. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 338 of 14 November 2023, if she has received this information from Garda authorities to have this PQ answered. [55364/23]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I understand that Parliamentary Question No. 338 of 14 November 2023 refers to the number of Gardaí, by rank, attached to Carlow-Kilkenny Garda Division Forensic Collision Investigation unit as of 7 November 2023; and the corresponding figures as of 31 March 2022.

As you will recall, I sought the information you requested from the Garda authorities and undertook to contact you again once the information was to hand.

The unprecedented allocation of over €2.3 billion to An Garda Síochána for 2024 demonstrates the Government's commitment to ensuring Gardaí have provision for the equipment, technology, facilities, fleet and personnel it needs to carry out vital policing work. This includes funding for up to 900 new Gardaí and a 66 per cent increase in the Garda training allowance to €305.

As you 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 distribution of Garda members between the various Garda stations. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.

I am assured by the Garda Commissioner that this distribution is kept under review in light of emerging crime trends and policing needs.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that, for the years specified, the number of Garda members assigned to the Forensic Collision Investigation unit in the Kilkenny/Carlow Division istoo low to report due to security reasons.

I am further advised that the Garda authorities are unable to provide a breakdown of these Garda members by rank as it could lead to the identification of the Garda members.

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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580. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when she expects the 17 new Garda public order unit vans to come into the fleet. [55365/23]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I am committed to supporting An Garda Síochána in their mission of keeping people safe. The unprecedented allocation of €2.3 billion for 2024 to An Garda Síochána demonstrates the Government's commitment to ensuring An Garda Síochána has provision for the equipment, technology, facilities, fleet and personnel it needs to carry out vital policing work.

An additional €4.4 million was allocated for the purchase of 95 additional Garda cars and vans by the end of this year, including 17 public order Garda vans which will be deployed in our towns and cities across the country to provide further reassurance for people, businesses and communities. It also includes 38 new fully electric patrol cars and 40 unmarked surveillance cars. This is in addition to 10 community policing vans which are currently being prepared for deployment.

The Deputy will be aware that all Garda vehicles are purchased under contracts tendered by the Office of Government Procurement. Generally, An Garda Síochána draw down from Garda specification lots within these OGP contracts. I understand that a contract is currently in place through the Office of Government Procurement for the purchase of Garda Public Order Unit Vans up to 15 September 2024 with the option of a 6 month extension. The Deputy will appreciate, the purchase and allocation of vehicles is made on the basis of identified operational demands, the availability of resources and is reviewed on a continual basis.

The table below, shows the number of public order vans, attached to the Garda Fleet by Region as at end of November.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business under section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended). As Minister, I have no role in internal Garda human resources matters.

To be of assistance to the Deputy I have contacted the Garda authorities and have been advised that, as of 7 December, 575 Gardaí are within their two year probation period.

Garda trainees undergo Phase I of training in the Garda College, Templemore. Upon successful completion of Phase I, trainees are attested as members of An Garda Síochána and commence their probationary period (normally two-years from attestation) in accordance with the provisions of the Admissions and Appointments Regulations.

The probationary period provides a period for An Garda Síochána to assess the suitability of the Probationer Garda to perform the roles and functions of a Garda, prior to confirmation in their appointment as a Garda.

Following attestation, Probationer Gardaí complete Phase II and Phase III of the BA in Applied Policing Programme in the operational environment. The entire Foundation Training Programme is approximately two years and eight months in duration, and may be subject to extensions as deemed appropriate.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. However, the information was not received in time. I will contact the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.

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. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.

I am 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.

In accordance with Section 51 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Commissioner, subject to the agreement of the Government, can assign Garda members overseas as Liaison Officers, to engage with law enforcement agencies of other States.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that there are 16 Garda members on overseas assignments with United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus, or with Interpol, Europol or MAOC(N), as of 30 November 2023. I am further informed there are fewer than 10 Garda Liaison Officers in various locations.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is, by law, responsible for the distribution of Garda members between the various Garda stations and Divisions, and for assessing the resourcing needs of the organisation on an ongoing basis. As Minister, I have no role in these matters.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that An Garda Síochána has a Roster and Duty Management System (RDMS) which supports resource management. It provides duty planning and time and attendance recording which is used to manage Garda members in a formalised and streamlined resource management process.

This system is integrated with the computer aided dispatch system ‘GardaSAFE’. This software system integrates telephone, radio, RDMS and PULSE applications. The system is accessible in the Regional Control Centres (RCCs) and enables the creation of contact records, incidents and the dispatch of units to incidents.

With the introduction of the GardaSAFE system, there is a significant wealth of data available to the Commissioner and his management team to monitor resources in real-time through an application called ‘Kibana’. This system contains a management dashboard, which provides a visual, search and analytical tool.