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 deployment of specialist units. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.

I have been advised by the Garda authorities that the Garda Air Support Unit is a national resource based at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, Co. Dublin. The unit is under the direction and control of Assistant Commissioner, Organised and Serious Crime and the operational control of Detective Chief Superintendent, Operational Support Services.

The unit provides a 24-hour proactive and reactive service in support of operational Gardaí on the ground and specialist units. Details of the Garda Air Support Unit operational provisions are published annually in An Garda Síochána annual reports available at the following link:

garda.ie/en/information-centre/annual-reports/

I am advised that the 2023 Annual Report is not yet finalised and will be published later this year. As a result, figures for 2023 are unavailable at present.

To be of assistance to the Deputy, the below table extracted from the published Annual Reports, outlines the number of incidents the Garda Air Support Unit attended in the years 2021 and 2022.

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), it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána, including training and HR matters. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that one training course was delivered to Waterford/Kilkenny/Carlow division in the period referred to, in which there were 11 participants.