Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)
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1080. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí by rank on each Public Order Unit Team within DMR; the number of Public Order Unit Teams that are available per shift in tabular form within DMR, in tabular form. [1139/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As you will be aware, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the general management and administration of the Garda organisation. This includes responsibility for the recruitment, training and deployment of Garda members throughout the State. As Minister, I have no direct role in such matters.

I am however assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review to ensure their optimal use.

As the Deputy may be aware the Garda National Public Order Unit (GNPOU) provides a tactical and graduated response to appropriate incidents, effectively supporting frontline personnel.

To be of assistance I sought the information requested by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána and have been advised that the GNPOU deploy in the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) on a daily basis. I am further advised that, for operational and security reasons, the specific details around the amount of times, and the number of GNPOU personnel that are deployed, cannot be provided.

Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)
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1081. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons arrested and charged with residential burglary within K district of DMR on 24 and 25 December 2023. [1140/24]

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. This includes the management of Garda IT systems, including the recording of information on PULSE. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.

To be of assistance I sought the information requested from An Garda Síochána. I have been advised that there were no recorded incidents on PULSE for the Garda 'K' District custody logs for burglary on the dates referred to by the Deputy. Information supplied is correct as of 8 January, is operational, and is subject to change.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Road safety is a shared responsibility, and it is one which this Government takes very seriously. We have all been shocked by the recent loss of life on our roads, and concerned by the worrying increase in road fatalities in 2023 and into the early days of the new year, after many years of progress in making our roads safer.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner determines the distribution and stationing of the Garda Síochána throughout the State under Section 33 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended). As Minister I play no role in the assignment of Garda members to the various units/Divisions.

I am however assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in light of identified operational demands.

I can advise the Deputy that road traffic legislation is enforced as part of the day-to-day duties of members of An Garda Síochána and, to assist with this, the Government are committed to providing the funding needed to continue to ramp up Garda recruitment. Budget 2024 provides for 800 -1000 new Garda recruits. Growing the strength of An Garda Síochána to 15,000 and beyond will allow the further expansion of specialist units, including the roads policing unit.

In the interest of transparency, the breakdown of Gardaí assigned to Roads Policing Units is publicly available on my Department's website at the following link:

www.gov.ie/en/publication/f179d-roads-policing-unit/

This information is regularly updated with figures supplied by An Garda Síochána, and the information is operational and subject to change. I can inform the Deputy that the latest figures available are up to 30 November 2023.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration 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.

However, to be of assistance I sought the information requested by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána and have been advised that there are currently no plans to have 1400cc motorcycles in use in the Garda Fleet, and there are currently none in use.

I am informed that the number and types of vehicles procured is based on identified operational needs, the availability of resources and is reviewed on a continual basis.