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 An Garda Síochána. This includes all operational and investigative policing matters. As Minister, I have no role in these matters and cannot seek to direct the Commissioner in relation to such.

I've been informed by the Garda authorities that Operation Limmat was introduced in January 2022 in the DMR with specific emphasis on reducing the harmful effect of assaults in public places in the DMR Region. This operation drives a pro arrest, pro enforcement, early investigation approach when incidents of assault and associated crime occur in the DMR.

Operation Limmat also promotes early prosecution of offenders with intelligence-led policing to identify hotspots where assaults occur and with a view of identifying prolific recidivist offenders.

Operation Limmat is still active in the DMR Region. All assaults that occur in public places are considered relevant to Operation Limmat.

As the Deputy will appreciate, An Garda Síochána does not hold and cannot provide a return for convictions. Queries regarding convictions data should be directed toward the Courts Service, who are responsible for providing such information. The Courts Service has a dedicated email address for the provision of information to members of the Houses of the Oireachtas: oireachtasenquiries@courts.ie

However, as per the recorded crime statistics compiled by the Central Statistics Office, there is a 3.7% reduction in assaults causing harm in the DMR when 2023 is compared with 2022.

The Garda Commissioner has assured the Minister that there will continue to be a high-visibility policing presence in the DMR. He has the resources to do so under Budget 2024, with an overtime budget to use as required and a stream of new Gardaí coming down the tracks from the recruitment planned for this year.

Last year, the Minister for Justice provided additional overtime in Dublin and it is important to note that the overall Garda overtime budget for 2024 is a substantial increase on last year.

It may interest the Deputy to note that, as of the end of February 2024, there were 3,688 Garda members assigned to the Garda Divisions across Dublin. This represents a 5.6% increase on the number assigned to Dublin in 2015 when there were 3,491. These Garda members work alongside 465 Garda Staff, which is a 121% increase since 2015.

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 boats or specialist equipment for the Garda Water Unit. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.

The Garda Water Unit is a national resource based at Santry Garda Station, Dublin Metropolitan Region and Garycastle, Athlone, Co. Westmeath.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that as of January 2024, the latest date for when figures are available, there were six inflatable boats attached to the Garda Water Unit.

I am advised that these boats meet the current requirements of the Unit and that the equipment fitted is regularly serviced and upgraded when necessary. I am further advised that there are currently no plans to replace these boats.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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In Budget 2024, as part of the €2.3 billion Garda allocation, the Government provided funding for a new national centre of excellence in Dublin for the Garda Dog Unit, with the planned expansion to all Garda regions on a phased basis involving 50 handlers with access to 100 dogs of different capabilities.

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 all operational policing matters. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions, nor can I direct the Commissioner with regard to them.

I am assured that the Commissioner keeps the allocation of resources under continued review, in line with crime and population trends, to ensure their optimum use.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that as of 2 April An Garda Síochána has 18 official operational kennelling facilities provided for in the following locations:

• 6 dog kennels in the Garda Dog Unit, Dublin
• 2 dog kennels in the Garda Dog Unit, Limerick
• 4 dog kennels in the Garda Dog Unit, Cork
• 6 dog kennels in the Garda Dog Unit, Galway

I am further informed that, in addition to the operational centres, members attached to the Garda Dog Unit have kennelling provided to them in their private residence as the dogs require kennelling facilities off duty as well as on working tours.

I am also advised the latest increase in kennel numbers took place in Cork and Galway within the last twelve months. The kennel numbers in Douglas, Cork have increased from two kennels to four kennels, and six new kennels were established in Galway.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As you may be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána under Section 26 of the Garda

Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), which includes all operational policing matters. As Minister, I play no role in these independent functions.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that a search of the PULSE database was conducted on 3 March 2023 for arrests between 1 January 2023 to 21 March 2024 (the latest date for which figures are available) in which the station of custody was recorded as Pearse Street.

Based on the numbers returned, the table below shows the count of arrests by year.

Year	2023	2024 (to 21 March)
Count	3236	725

Please note that this incident data is based upon operational data from the PULSE system as was available on 21 March 2024 and is liable to change.