Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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502. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of vehicles seized by gardaí in the U district within DMR for having no insurance in 2023 and to-date in 2024, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19097/24]

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, which includes the enforcement of road traffic legislation. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.

The table below, which was provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of vehicles seized by Garda authorities in the U district for having no insurance in 2023 and to date in 2024.

*2024 figures cover the time period from 1 January 2024 to 24 April 2024.

I am informed that figures are based on incidents occurring from 1 January 2023 to 24 April 2024, inclusive. All information contained in this report is based upon operational data from the Pulse system as was available on 25 April 2024, and is operational and liable to change.

I am further informed that vehicles listed above relate to those detained under S41 of the Road Traffic Act

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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503. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí in each division within DMR that have received additional specialist public order training to deal with major violence disorder incidents to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19098/24]

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, including the training of Garda members and staff. As Minister, I have no role in the specific training provided to any Garda member to undertake any part of their duties.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that training courses available from the Garda College are provided on a needs basis, and with regard to the operational requirements of the Garda organisation.

You may also be interested to know that, in order to further support front-line Gardaí, including Public Order Units, the Garda Senior Management Team has agreed on a range of measures, which includes the following:

• stronger incapacitant spray,
• expansion of the dog unit,
• increasing public order training,
• more tasers for public order policing, and
• provision of hand-held video cameras for public order units.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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504. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 862 of 9 April 2024, if she has received the necessary information from the Garda authorities to have this PQ answered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19099/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I have sought the information requested by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána, however, this information has not yet been received in time. I will write to the Deputy directly once it is to hand.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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505. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the amount spent on purchasing additional Garda public order equipment in the years of 2023 and to-date in 2024, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19100/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Unfortunately, the information was not received in time. I will contact the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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506. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will report on Garda Operation Satailt; the number of persons arrested and charged under this operation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19101/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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It has not been possible to collate the information requested in the time allowed. I will write to the Deputy directly when the information is to hand.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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507. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of fixed penalty notices issued by gardai within F District within DMR for driving a vehicle while holding a mobile phone in the years of 2022, 2023 and to-date in 2024, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19103/24]

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, which includes the enforcement of road traffic legislation. As Minister, I have no role in these matters.

The table below, which was provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of Fixed Charge Notices issued by Garda authorities in the F district for holding a mobile phone.

*2024 figures cover the time period from 1 January 2024 to 24 April 2024

I am informed that figures are based on incidents occurring from 1 January 2022 to 24 April 2024, inclusive. All information contained in this report is based upon operational data from the FCPS system as was available on 25 April 2024, and is operational and liable to change.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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508. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of detective inspectors allocated to each District within DMR as of 23 April 2024; if she will provide same figures as of 30 June 2022, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19104/24]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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511. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of detective superintendents allocated to each Division within DMR as of 23 April 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19107/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 508 and 511 together.

For the Deputy's information, the table below, which was supplied to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of Detective Inspectors and Detective Superintendents in An Garda Síochána DMR as of 23 April 2024, the latest date for which figures are available. Please note that these figures are operational and may be subject to change.

* denotes a figure less than ten. I am advised that the Garda authorities will not report on numbers that are less than 10 for operational reasons.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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509. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question number 863 of 9 April 2024, if she has received the necessary information from the Garda authorities to have this PQ answered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19105/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I can advise the Deputy that difficulties in relation to the execution of warrants are a long-standing issue for many police services around the world, notably relating to persons actively seeking to evade detection and where limited identification information might be available to support enforcement. These difficulties are compounded where the warrant has been outstanding for some years.

I am assured by the Garda authorities that An Garda Síochána executes warrants as expeditiously as possible, giving priority to the execution of warrants relating to serious crimes.

I am further advised that there were 950 outstanding penal warrants in the Coolock district of the DMR on 31 March 2024, and that all of these are outstanding for more than six months.

Figures were collated based on PULSE data as of 10 April 2024. These figures are operational and may be liable to change.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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510. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardai by rank attached to each of the four National Cyber Crime Bureau satellite hubs as of 23 April 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19106/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Government is committed to taking measures to combat and prevent cybercrime.

There is close cooperation across the whole of Government on this issue, including between An Garda Síochána and the National Cyber Security Centre.

I recently had the opportunity to visit the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau and to thank the highly skilled Gardaí first hand for the very important work they do.

The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to fight crime. The 2024 allocation provides a budget of over €2.35 billion to An Garda Síochána, representing a 25% increase since 2020. This unprecedented budget will strengthen the work of specialist units within An Garda Síochána such as the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau and the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau.

As part of Budget 2024's unprecedented allocation, €155 million has been allocated for digital capital investment and IT. I am satisfied that the Cybercrime Bureau are constantly developing their expertise and capability in this vital field and the tools they are currently deploying are cutting edge. Crucially they also cooperate closely with overseas partners in combatting this borderless crime.

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 for the recruitment, training and deployment of Garda members and Garda Staff. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.

To be of assistance to the Deputy I sought the information requested by the Deputy from the Garda authorities and have been informed that, as of 26 April 2024, the four Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau Satellite Hubs are staffed as follows:

• Galway – 1 Detective Sergeant, 6 Detective Gardaí
• Wexford – 1 Detective Sergeant, 5 Detective Gardaí
• Cork – 1 Detective Sergeant, 7 Detective Gardaí
• Mullingar – 5 Detective Gardaí

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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512. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of new marked Garda cars that came into the fleet in 2023 and to-date in 2024; the number of marked Garda cars that were withdrawn from the fleet during same period, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19108/24]

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.

On 31 March 2024 there were 3,513 vehicles in the Garda fleet, the highest ever and a 34% increase since 2015.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that the table below shows marked Garda cars allocated to and removed from the fleet in 2023 and to date in 2024.

The purchase and allocation of vehicles by An Garda Síochána is made on the basis of identified operational demands, the availability of resources and is reviewed on a continual basis.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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513. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of aggravated burglaries reported to gardai in the B District within DMR in the first three months of 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19109/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the compilation and publication of all crime statistics.

The CSO produces these statistics using data recorded on An Garda Síochána’s PULSE system and makes regular releases in relation to various crime statistics. The most recent statistics were released on 25 March 2024, providing statistics for Recorded Crime for Quarter 4 (Q4) 2023.

I understand that the "B District" referred to by the Deputy relates to Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) South Central Division, Pearse Street District. Figures in respect of the number of Aggravated Burglaries Offences reported to Gardaí in the DMR South Central Division can be found on the CSO website at the following link: data.cso.ie/table/CJQ06.

However, it is worth noting that crime statistics for Q1 of 2024 are not yet available and are due to be published by the CSO towards the end of June.

I am informed by the Garda Authorities that no incidents of Aggravated Burglary were reported within Pearse Street (B) District during Q1 2024.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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514. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if the necessary funding will be provided for the issuing of a personal protective helmet to be issued to each frontline Garda; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19110/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is the Accounting Officer for the Garda Vote under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) and is accountable for the economy and the efficiency of the Garda Síochána in using its resources. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.

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 vital policing work.

On a day-to-day basis, a Garda is equipped with a utility belt, torch, handcuffs, ASP baton, CS spray, radio and stab vest while on duty. Helmets are issued to members of An Garda Síochána assigned to duties such as motorcycle duties, pedal cycle duties, air support unit duties, public order duties, amongst others.

I am informed that further procurement and any required issuing of new personal protective helmets will be considered as part of the broader An Garda Síochána Estimates process for 2025 which will be progressed in the coming months.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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515. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardai by rank attached to each Divisional Street Crime Unit within DMR as of 23 April 2024, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19111/24]

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 managing the deployment of personnel among the various Garda Divisions. As Minister, I have no role in these matters.

I am assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities.

The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to keep people safe. An Garda Síochána has been allocated unprecedented funding of over €2.35 billion for 2024 representing a 25% increase since 2020. This funding will allow for the continued recruitment of Garda members and staff.

The table below, provided to me by the Garda authorities, outlines the number of Garda members by rank attached to the Street Crime Units in the Dublin Metropolitan Region:

As the Deputy may be aware, further data is not released by An Garda Síochána for counts of fewer than 10 for data protection and security reasons.