Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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276. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of arrests from Raheny Garda station within the DMR in 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26776/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As you will 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.

To be of assistance to the Deputy I have made enquiries on his behalf. I am advised by the Garda authorities that a search of the PULSE database was conducted on 18 June 2024 for arrests that occurred between 1 January 2023 to 17 June 2024 in which the station of custody was recorded as Raheny.

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

*Figures up to 17 June 2024.

It is worth noting that this incident data is based upon operational data from the PULSE system as was available on 18 June 2024 and is liable to change.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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277. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 456 of 21 May 2024, if she has received the necessary information from the Garda authorities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26777/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Parliamentary Question No. 456 of 21 May 2024 refers to the number of Gardaí by rank attached to the Garda Mounted Unit as of 14 May 2024, in tabular form.

As the Deputy will appreciate, 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 by arranging for the recruitment, training and appointment of its members and civilian staff. As Minister, I have no direct role in these independent functions.

However, to be of assistance, I sought the information you requested from the Garda authorities who have advised me that there were 14 Garda members attached to the Garda Mounted Unit on 14 May 2024.

I am further advised that 12 of these members are of Garda rank. The Garda authorities advise that they are unable to provide the rank of the two remaining members as data is not released by An Garda Síochána for counts less than ten for data protection reasons.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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278. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of competitions held for sworn gardaí to apply to join the Garda national economic crime bureau in 2023 and to date in 2024; the number of gardaí, by rank, who applied for each of those competitions to join GNECB in the years in question, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26778/24]

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 Garda business, including for the allocation of Garda members and staff to a given unit. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.

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. Furthermore, as part of Budget 2024's unprecedented allocation, €155 million has been allocated for digital capital investment and IT.

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

The table below, provided to me by the Garda authorities, outlines the number of competitions held for sworn Gardaí to apply to join the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) in 2023. To date there have been no competitions in 2024. The table also gives the number of Gardaí, by rank, who applied for each of those competitions to join the GNECB. 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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279. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 505 of 30 April 2024, if she has received the necessary information from the Garda authorities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26779/24]

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 on time. I will contact the Deputy directly once the information is available.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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280. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí, by rank, attached to the Dublin crime response team as of 14 June 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26780/24]

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 on time. I will contact the Deputy directly once the information is available.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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281. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 454 of 21 May 2024, if she has received the necessary information from the Garda authorities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26781/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Parliamentary Question No. 454 of 21 May 2024 refers to the number of Gardaí by rank attached to each divisional drugs unit as of 14 May 2024 in tabular form.

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, as well as for decisions on 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 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. This funding has enabled the Garda Commissioner to assign extra resources to the specialist units involved in tackling organised crime.

These include the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB), the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Armed Support Unit, and the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB). Between 2019 and 2023, over €380m in drugs have been seized by the Gardaí.

The Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau leads in tackling all forms of drug trafficking and the supply of illicit drugs in Ireland. Collaboration at an inter-agency and international level remain key in tackling this issue. Given the global nature of the drugs trade, international law enforcement co-operation remains a key element in the overall response.

An Garda Síochána has strong and strategic partnerships in place at international level targeting drug trafficking, including working closely with relevant law enforcement agencies such as INTERPOL and Europol and participating in the Maritime Analysis Operations Centre for Narcotics (MAOC-N) based in Lisbon.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that there were 336 Garda members assigned to Divisional Drugs Units nationwide on 30 April 2024, the latest date for when figures are available. This represents an increase of 30% since the end of 2015.

The table below, which was provided to me by the Garda Authorities, sets out the number of Garda members by rank attached to each divisional drug unit on 30 April 2024.

Please note that this information is based upon operational data which has been provided by An Garda Síochána and may be liable to change.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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282. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of competitions, by rank, that were held for gardaí to apply to join Garda armed support units in 2023 and to date in 2024; the number of gardaí, by rank, who applied for each competition for GASU, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26782/24]

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 on time. I will contact the Deputy directly once the information is available.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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283. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 457 of 21 May 2024, if she has received the necessary information from the Garda authorities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26783/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Parliamentary Question No. 457 of 21 May 2024 refers to the number of dry custody cells in each district within the DMR as of 14 May 2024.

As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible under the law for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including any decisions in relation to the allocation and control of Garda equipment and resources. As Minister for Justice, I have no direct role in these matters.

The programme of replacement and refurbishment of Garda accommodation is progressed by the Garda authorities working in close cooperation with the Office of Public Works (OPW), which has the responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation.

However, to be of assistance, I sought the information you requested from the Garda authorities who have advised that there is 1 (one) dry cell in Store Street Garda station, 1 (one) dry cell in Santry Garda station, and 1 (one) dry cell in Ballymun Garda station.

I am further advised that the three cells are no longer in use.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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284. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí, by rank, attached to the street crime unit within the J district of DMR as of 17 June 2024; the number of incidents dealt with by SCU in 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26784/24]

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 has not been received on time. I will contact the Deputy directly once the information is available.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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285. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of motorcycle escort courses held for gardaí within roads policing units in 2023 and to date in 2024; the duration of these courses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26785/24]

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 Garda training matters. As Minister, I have no role in this regard.

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.

The table below, which was provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of Garda members by Division who attended the Motorcycle Escort course in 2023 and to date in 2024. I am informed that each course was conducted over a five day period.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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286. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she has met the chief superintendent of DMR north to date in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26786/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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While I have met many Chief Superintendents since my appointment as Minister, I have not had the opportunity to meet formally with the Chief Superintendent for DMR North, as yet.

I can, however, assure the Deputy that I meet with the Garda Commissioner on a regular basis. I meet him formally on a quarterly basis and I also meet him to discuss matters as the need arises or on specific issues. In addition, given the nature of our respective roles, I meet the Commissioner at events, ceremonies, etc., throughout the year, such as when new members of An Garda Síochána are attested in Templemore.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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287. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda age ID cards issued in 2023 and to date in 2024; the amount collected in this period for the issuing of these age ID cards, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26787/24]

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 administration of the Garda Age Card scheme. As Minister, I have no role in the issuing of Age Cards.

I have contacted the Garda authorities and have been advised that, under the Intoxicating Liquor Act 1988 (Age Card) Regulations 2010, anyone over the age of 18 can apply for a voluntary Age Card. The Age Card can be used by individuals aged 18 and over to show that they have reached the legal age for purchasing alcohol.

The table below, furnished to me by the Garda authorities, shows the number of Age Cards issued between 1 January 2023 to 31 May 2024, as well as the surplus income generated from the Age Card fees.

It is important to note that an Age Card is a 'proof of age' card and not an official identity card. Further information on the Age Card scheme can be found at www.agecard.ie.