Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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930. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the estimated amount that An Garda Síochána spent on sending out poor quality CCTV camera images to external companies in order to get that quality of the image improved in the years of 2023 and to-date in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12561/24]

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). This includes all operational policing matters. As Minister I have no role in the investigative process or in decisions related to the need for third party technical support for such investigations.

I have contacted the Garda authorities and have been advised that, where appropriate, An Garda Síochána can employ external third party companies to get the image quality improved on CCTV images. In the event that such third party companies are engaged with, this would occur at investigation level through relevant Divisions. Due to the manner in which such costs are recorded it is not possible to provide the figures as requested.

The Electronic Media Unit within Garda ICT is focused on the delivery of support for applications in the forensic retrieval of mobile phones and CCTV data, supporting evidence gathering and compilation of evidence. The unit provides some limited capability to An Garda Síochána centrally, and at Divisional level, for enhancement of CCTV footage in-house by way of third party commercial software.

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 by law. This includes Garda discipline. As Minister, I play no role in these independent functions, including decisions related to the suspension of Garda members.

Disciplinary matters within An Garda Síochána are governed by the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) and the Garda Síochána (Discipline) Regulations 2007, as amended by the Garda Síochána (Discipline) (Amendment) Regulations 2011, and are a matter for the Garda Commissioner.

It is important to note that the vast majority of Garda members serve with integrity and distinction.

As stated by the Commissioner and his team at the recent public meeting with the Policing Authority, there are currently 99 Garda members suspended, the lowest it has been in almost two years. There was a 40% reduction in the number of suspensions in 2023 compared to 2022 and no new suspensions imposed so far this year, up to 29 February 2024.

As the Deputy will appreciate, as the number of members suspended is so low, a breakdown by Division or Region is not possible for data protection reasons.

I understand that there is some frustration among Garda members in relation to the amount of time members may be suspended while under investigation from GSOC.

Under the Policing Security and Community Safety Act 2024, a reformed police complaints body and system will be put in place. It will be called Fiosrú – Oifig an Ombudsman Póilíneachta (the new Office of the Police Ombudsman). Fiosrú is being established to replace GSOC and reformed processes and procedures will be put in place relating to the handling of complaints and the conduct of investigations into allegations of wrong doing on the part of members of Garda personnel.

The changes will greatly strengthen the existing mechanisms for Garda accountability, enhance transparency and improve the efficiency of the complaints process, while ensuring that there is no compromise to the rights of those involved to fair procedures and natural justice.