Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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531. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality whether racial awareness training takes place on an ongoing basis for members of the judiciary and an Garda Síochána; if the organisations are satisfactory in relation to ECRI general policy recommendation No.11 on combating racism and racial discrimination in policing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36761/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I have contacted the Garda authorities for the information requested by the Deputy. Regrettably, this information was not available in time and I will write to the Deputy directly when it is to hand.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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532. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of new Garda vehicles allocated to the Garda technical bureau to date in 2024; and the number of Garda vehicles from the technical bureau withdrawn during same period, in tabular form. [36797/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes the distribution of resources, including the Garda fleet, across the various Garda Divisions. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.

The Government is committed to providing An Garda Síochána with the necessary resources to keep people safe. This is reflected in the unprecedented allocation of over €2.35 billion in Budget 2024. This is allowing for sustained investment in recruitment, equipment, technology and vehicles.

There are now 3,530 vehicles in the Garda fleet, the highest total of vehicles ever in use by An Garda Síochána, and an increase of over 35% since 2015. The fleet includes 2,657 cars, 589 vans, 132 motorcycles, 100 4x4 and 52 others (refers to MPV, SUV, Minibus or Prisoner Conveyance Vehicles).

I am informed by Garda Authorities that no vehicles were allocated to or removed from the Garda Technical Bureau to date in 2024, as of 31 August 2024.

The table below, which has been provided to me by the Garda authorities, indicates the number of vehicles currently allocated to the Garda Technical Bureau as of August 31 2024.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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533. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the estimated costs in 2025 if 35 additional WTE digital forensic examiners at engineering grade 3 were recruited for An Garda Síochána. [36798/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes the distribution of resources, including Garda staff, across the various Garda Divisions. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.

The Government is committed to providing An Garda Síochána with the resources it needs to keep people safe. This is reflected in the unprecedented allocation of over €2.35 billion in Budget 2024. This is allowing for sustained investment in recruitment, equipment, technology and vehicles.

I am informed by Garda authorities that the estimated full-year payroll cost of recruiting 35 WTE digital forensic examiners at engineering grade 3 level is approximately €1.52million (€43,453 per person). The costing assumes that the staff are placed on the first point of the current engineer grade 3 pay scale. Scheduled pay rises and scheduled changes to the rate of employer’s PRSI are included in the calculation.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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534. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of intoxilyzer machines based in each Garda division as of 12 September 2024, in tabular form. [36799/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes the distribution of resources across the various Garda Divisions. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.

The Government is committed to providing An Garda Síochána with the resources required to keep people safe. This is reflected in the unprecedented allocation of over €2.35 billion in Budget 2024. This is allowing for sustained investment in recruitment, equipment, technology and vehicles.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Medical Bureau of Road Safety is responsible for the supply, maintenance and upkeep of breath testing machines due to the ongoing requirements to have these machines regularly calibrated to provide accurate results for court purposes. The model of Intoxilyzer machine currently in use by An Garda Síochána for in-station breath testing is the Evidenzer IRL.

The table below, which has been provided to me by the Garda authorities, indicates the number of these machines allocated across each Garda Division as of 13 September 2024: