Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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When an International Protection claim is being examined by the International Protection Office (IPO), the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) provides accommodation and related services to IP applicants who wish to accept such services.

There is close engagement between my Department, GNIB and IPAS concerning persons subject to deportation orders who are or may have been in IPAS accommodation. The making of requests by An Garda Siochana along the lines referred to by the Deputy are operational matters for the Garda authorities. I am informed that the requested statistics are not recorded in a manner to allow this specific data to be extracted.

Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)
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428. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if there are any plans to set up dedicated scrambler apprehension units in urban areas, properly resourced units with the vehicles and equipment needed for their role. [4307/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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At the outset I would like to assure the Deputy that community safety is a top priority for me as Minister and this Government as a whole. The Department's community safety policy is about people being safe and, importantly, feeling safe in their own community and is being piloted in three locations around the country, ahead of a planned national rollout later this year. As part of that process, a Community Safety Strategy will be developed to address criminal behaviour, anti-social behaviour and other factors that affect people’s perceptions and experiences of safety.

This approach goes far beyond the traditional policing response and requires all relevant state bodies and voluntary organisations to work together in a joined-up way, in partnership with the local community, to prioritise and effectively address issues in their own area.

As the Deputy will be aware, under section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business, which includes all operational policing decisions. Under section 33 of the Act, the Commissioner determines the distribution and stationing of the Garda Síochána throughout the State. As Minister I am unable to direct or seek to influence the Commissioner in regards to the establishment of Garda units.

To be of assistance, I have contacted the Garda authorities and they have advised there are no plans to establish dedicated scrambler apprehension units within An Garda Síochána.

All members of An Garda Síochána have a role in the enforcement of road traffic legislation, including the illegal use of scrambler type motorcycles in public places. An Garda Síochána maintain a dedicated Roads Policing unit within each Garda Division whose focus is on dedicated road safety operations within those Divisions.

These units are supported by their Divisional colleagues, both uniform and detective, in keeping people safe in our communities.

In areas where local problems or issues arise, the Divisional Officer will put in place plans to address these issues, as was seen in Limerick in October 2023 when 44 scramblers were seized and 5 people arrested as part of a targeted operation.

Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)
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429. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if there any plans for the use of drones in the following and apprehension of illegally driven scramblers in parks and estates. [4308/24]

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, including all operational policing matters like the use of equipment such as drones. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions and am unable to direct the Commissioner in any operational decisions.

However, to be of assistance I sought the information requested by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána and have been advised that there is, at present, no Garda policy or plan to utilise drones to follow or apprehend illegally driven scramblers in parks and public areas.

For the Deputy's information, the Garda Air Support Unit (GASU) 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.

GASU is currently undertaking ongoing trials with a number of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (Drones) and there is an internal Garda working group tasked with examining the wider potential and scope to use drones to assist in various policing operations. The working group is chaired by Superintendent, Operational Support Services under the direction of Assistant Commissioner, Organised and Serious Crime.

I am informed that 21 drones have been procured by GASU for evaluation, training and possible future operational use in the Garda Air Support Unit. 10 members attached to GASU have received formal training in drone operations and the relevant regulations regarding drone flights.

Legislation currently limits the operational use of drones by An Garda Síochána, however, the Deputy will be aware that the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Act 2023 will provide a legal basis for the use of recording devices on drones by Gardaí on commencement of the Act, subject to a code of practice.

Separately, I am advised that An Garda Síochána is awaiting additional regulations to be created and signed by the Minister for Transport, as per section 35(a) of the Road Traffic Act 1994, to restrict certain types of vehicles from defined areas of public recreation. This will include, for example, the restriction of the use of motorcycles/scramblers/quads in areas such as public beaches and Coillte Forests.

Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)
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430. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if there are any plans to equip the cycle mounted gardaí with electric bikes. [4309/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible by law for the management and administration of Garda business, which includes 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 these independent functions.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that An Garda Síochána are currently conducting a pilot exercise on the use of e-Bikes as a means of patrolling. This pilot has been rolled out in two locations, for a defined period, with a review of their effectiveness to be conducted upon conclusion of the pilot exercise.

I am advised there are eight e-Bikes in the Garda fleet at present. The two areas chosen for the pilot are Dublin Metropolitan Region and Cork City.

I am further informed that presently, there are no plans to further expand this pilot scheme until an evaluation takes place.