Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The unprecedented allocation of over €2.35 billion for 2024 to An Garda Síochána demonstrates the Government's commitment to ensuring An Garda Síochána has provision for the equipment, technology, facilities, fleet and personnel it needs to carry out its vital policing work.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for all operational and investigative policing matters. As Minister I have no role in and cannot seek to direct the Commissioner in relation to such matters.

Further to this the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the allocation of Garda resources, including Garda members, to a given area or specialist unit. I am assured that the Commissioner keeps the allocation of these resources under continued review to ensure their optimum use.

I have been informed by Garda authorities that cold case investigations are prioritised in so far as is practicable, given the resources available to the unit. Every effort is made to assign adequate resources to a cold case investigation.

In order for a cold case investigation to be initiated, the ‘cold case’ itself must be assessed on the basis of whether or not a review can proactively and meaningfully progress matters or not, as the case maybe. In this regard, the type and nature of review to be applied is then considered on a similar rationale.

Cold case reviews are completed locally by a serious crime ‘peer’ review officer, or, on a national basis by An Garda Síochána Serious Crime Review Team, at the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) provide support and resources to An Garda Síochána. FSI delivers comprehensive scientific analysis, independent expert opinion, advice and training to support the Irish Criminal Justice system. It may interest the Deputy to note that FSI recently relocated to a new facility in Backweston, Co. Kildare. The construction of this facility represents the largest ever capital project directly funded by the Exchequer in the Justice sector, at just over €100 million. This investment reflects the important role that FSI plays in our criminal justice system and will enable FSI to take full advantage of evolving DNA and other technologies in criminal investigations and missing person investigations.