Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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304. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of cases that the Kildare divisional protective services unit dealt with in 2023 and to-date in 2024, in tabular form. [28081/24]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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308. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of cases dealt with by Wicklow divisional protective services unit in 2023 and to-date in 2024, in tabular form. [28085/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 304 and 308 together.

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.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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305. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 420 of 21 May 2024, if she has received the necessary information from the Garda authorities in order to have this question answered. [28082/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Parliamentary Question No. 420 of 21 May 2024 refers to the current ages of each of the Garda Prisoner Transport Carriers in the Garda fleet.

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.

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.

I am advised that the purchase and allocation of vehicles is made on the basis of identified operational demands and the availability of resources. This is reviewed on a continual basis.

The table below, which was provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of Garda Prisoner Transport Vehicles by age on the 30 May 2024, the latest date for when figures are available. Please note that this information is operational and may be subject to change.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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306. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of new unmarked Garda cars and vans that were allocated to the Garda National Immigration Bureau in 2023 and to-date in 2024; and the number of unmarked Garda cars and vans withdrawn from GNIB during same period, in tabular form. [28083/24]

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.

There are now 3,531 vehicles in the Garda fleet, the highest ever, and an increase of nearly 35% since 2015. The fleet includes 2,667 cars, 575 vans, 137 motorcycles, 100 4x4 and 52 others (refers to MPV, SUV, Minibus or Prisoner Conveyance Vehicles).

I am informed by the Garda authorities that all vehicles allocated to the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) are unmarked. I am further informed that 3 vehicles were allocated to the GNIB in 2023 and none were removed. As of end of May 2024, no vehicles have been allocated or removed in this year.

I am further advised that 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

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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307. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 462 on 21 May 2024, if she has received the necessary information from the Garda authorities in order to have this question answered. [28084/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Parliamentary Question No. 462 of 21 May 2024 refers to the number of e-bikes seized by Gardaí within the Kildare division in 2023 and to date in 2024.

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 matters, nor can I direct the Commissioner with regard to them.

I can, however, assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and a strengthened, well-resourced Garda Síochána is central to this policy. This commitment is demonstrated by the unprecedented provision of over €2.35 billion to the Garda Vote this year, which is allowing for sustained and ongoing recruitment and investment in new equipment and new vehicles.

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.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that no e-bikes were seized/detained in the Kildare Division in 2023 and in 2024, up to 20 May 2024.

I am further advised that, during the same period, there were 27 e-bike seizures nationally.

I am advised that the figures are based on incidents occurring from 1 January 2023 to 20 May 2024, inclusive. All information contained in this report is based upon operational data from the Pulse system as was available on 21 May 2024 and is liable to change.

Vehicles seized or detained include, but are not exclusively, those seized or detained under Section 41 of the Road Traffic Act.

You may also wish to be aware that my colleagues at the Department of Transport, Minister Eamon Ryan T.D. and (then) Minister of State Jack Chambers T.D., recently welcomed the commencement of new regulations under the Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023 for e-scooters and e-bikes/e-mopeds into Irish legislation.

From 20 May, regulations that set out new legal and safe technical parameters and usage of e-scooters and e-bikes came into effect. The regulations lay out the rules of the road for people choosing to use light electric vehicles, which will be enforceable under Irish law.

A public information campaign outlining how these vehicles can be enjoyed and used safely on our roads rolled out from commencement day. The Gardaí and Road Safety Authority have been involved in the development of these regulations from the start and An Garda Síochána will be responsible for their enforcement.

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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309. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of data access requests that An Garda Síochána or the Criminal Asset Bureau have made to telecommunications and social media companies in the past three years to date in 2024 under the Communications (Retention of Data) Bill 2011; The number of requests that were approved by the companies that the data was requested from; and the reason the data was sought in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28095/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I have sought the information requested from the Garda authorities, and will contact the Deputy again when this is available.

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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310. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of unmarked Garda roads policing unit cars that came into the fleet in 2023 and to-date in 2024; the number of unmarked Garda RPU cars withdrawn from the fleet during same period in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28096/24]

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.

On 30 June 2024 there were 3,530 vehicles in the Garda fleet, the highest ever and a 35% increase since 2015.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the table below, sets out the number of unmarked cars allocated to and removed from the Roads Policing Unit in 2023 and in 2024, up to 31 May 2024, the latest date for when figures are available.

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.

It is important to note that road traffic legislation is enforced as part of the day-to-day duties of members of An Garda Síochána, as well as through a programme of high-visibility road safety and enforcement operations carried out in partnership with other state agencies, in order to make our roads safer for all. All frontline Gardaí contribute to policing our roads and keeping them safe and, on average, 25% of roads policing enforcement is carried out by regular members, with the exception of drug/drink driving checks, 75% of which are carried out by regular members.

I am informed that the allocation of vehicles is made on the basis of identified operational demands and the availability of resources.

I am also informed that the purchase and allocation of vehicles is monitored and reviewed on a continual basis to ensure the best match with operational requirements.

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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311. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of WTE civilian forensic accountants grade 2 working in the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau as of 18 June 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28097/24]

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 (GNECB). 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.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that there are currently fewer than 10 WTE Civilian Forensic Accountants at Grade 2 working in the GNECB. I am advised that specific data is not released by An Garda Síochána for counts of fewer than 10 for data protection reasons.

I am further informed that there are two approved backfill vacancies to be filled this year from an open competition which ran in 2023.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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312. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of serving members of An Garda Síochána who have received a criminal conviction for a violent crime and the number of An Garda Síochána who have been convicted of domestic, sexual or gender-based violence, in tabular form. [28175/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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It has not been possible to collate the information requested by the Deputy in the time available.

I will write to the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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313. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to provide the number of serving members of An Garda Síochána who are currently undergoing criminal proceedings for a violent crime; the number of gardaí who are currently undergoing criminal proceedings for domestic, sexual or gender-based violence, in tabular form. [28176/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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It has not been possible to collate the information requested by the Deputy in the time available.

I will write to the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.