Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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538.To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of companies that applied for the contract for the new aircraft and helicopters for the Garda air support unit. [24886/24]

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), which includes the procurement of equipment for the service.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that the tenders for the procurement of both rotary wing aircraft (helicopters) and fixed wing aircraft have been completed pursuant to the derogation set out in Regulation 9(b) of the European Union (Award of Contracts relating to Defence and Security) Regulation 2012 (S.I. 62 of 2012) which transposed Directive 2009/81/EC into Irish law.

The derogation under Regulation 9(b) relates to " a contract for the purposes of intelligence activities."

I can confirm that tenderers were invited to submit a tender for the provision of rotary wing aircraft (helicopters) and tenderers were invited to submit a tender for the provision of fixed wing aircraft by An Garda Síochána. Due to the nature of the derogation above, the Deputy will appreciate that I cannot comment on specifics related to security matters.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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539.To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda asset profilers in each Garda division as of 28 May 2024, in tabular form. [24887/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) is a multi-agency statutory body established under the Criminal Assets Bureau Act 1996. The Bureau’s remit is to target a person's assets, wherever situated, which derive, or are suspected to derive, directly or indirectly, from criminal conduct. Since its inception, the Bureau has been at the forefront of fighting organised crime in this jurisdiction and disrupting the activities of criminal gangs by depriving them of ill-gotten assets.

I am advised by the Bureau that the table below shows the number of Divisional Asset Profilers trained by CAB by Garda Division as of 28 May. Information supplied is operational and subject to change.

Please note that a review of Divisional Asset Profilers is currently being conducted to determine trained profilers that have retired, transferred or changed role.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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540.To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when the new Garda public order unit vans will come into the fleet. [24888/24]

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 management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including the purchase, allocation, and effective and efficient use of Garda vehicles. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions.

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.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that 15 Public Order vans have been ordered by An Garda Síochána and will be allocated to the Garda fleet in batches as they complete the fit-out process. I am further advised that the vans will be allocated by the end of the year, however an exact timeline is not yet available.

The Deputy may wish to be aware that there were 31 Public Order vans attached to the Garda Fleet on 30 May 2024.

It should be noted that the purchase and allocation of vehicles by An Garda Síochána are based on identified operational demands and the availability of resources, and this process is reviewed continually.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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541.To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of sergeant posts currently filled within the Tipperary division as of 28 May 2024; and if she will provide same figures as of 30 June 2021, in tabular form. [24889/24]

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. There are currently around 14,000 Garda members across the country. This represents an increase of around 9% since 2015 when there were 12,816 Garda members throughout the country.

As the Deputy is aware, the previous Tipperary Division merged with the Clare Division under the new Operating Model. At the end of February 2024, the latest date for when figures are available, there were 662 Garda members assigned to the Clare/Tipperary Division, of which 374 were assigned to the stations located in County Tipperary.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that there were 53 Garda Sergeants assigned to the previous Tipperary Division on 30 June 2021 and that the number of Garda Sergeants in stations located in County Tipperary by the end of February 2024, has increased to 63, which represents an 18% increase.