Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)
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158. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the progress that has been made in the past six months regarding the new Garda dog training centre. [39244/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for the management of An Garda Síochána, including the addition of new facilities to the Garda estate. Works on the Garda estate are carried out in close cooperation between the Office of Public Works (OPW) and Garda management.

I can assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to providing An Garda Síochána with the resources needed to Keep People Safe. This is reflected in the unprecedented allocation of €2.48 billion in Budget 2025. This represents a 27% increase in funding since 2020.

I have also secured additional capital funding of €93 million under the National Development Plan (NDP) for Justice projects in 2024 to 2026. This brings the total capital allocation available for the Justice sector between now and 2026 to €930 million.

Under the NDP, the Government is committed to investing significant levels of capital funding into An Garda Síochána. This increase in funding, along with the additional funding as part of Budget 2025, will allow for the delivery of a Garda station modernisation and refurbishment programme; to delivering strategic ICT and digitalisation projects; and to providing a modern, fit for purpose Garda fleet.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that the Estate Management Office in An Garda Síochána is working closely with the OPW and all relevant stakeholders on the project outlined by the Deputy. I am advised that work for the provision of a National Centre of Excellence for the Garda Dog Unit is at project design stage at this time. It is, therefore, not yet possible to provide additional details at this time.

As the Deputy may be aware, the Garda Dog Unit is currently based at Kilmainham Garda Station, in the Dublin Metropolitan Region. It has a national remit under the direction and control of Assistant Commissioner, Organised and Serious Crime and the strategic control of Detective Chief Superintendent, Operational Support Services and the Operational control of Superintendent, Operational Support Services.

Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)
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159. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the amount spent on the maintenance and upkeep of the Garda CCTV cameras in 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and the frequency in which these CCTV cameras are examined to ensure that they are in full working order. [39245/24]

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 any decisions relating to procurement of services and equipment. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.

However, to be of assistance I sought the information requested by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána and have been advised that the value of expenditure on installation, repairs and maintenance of Garda CCTV cameras for the last 3 years is as follows:

I am further advised that Garda CCTV systems are monitored by divisional personnel in line with divisional policing requirements. In this regard should a fault develop with a system it would be notified by the operator to ICT once they become aware of it. ICT would then seek to have the fault rectified. In addition the majority of Garda CCTV schemes have a maintenance service contracted on them which involves a service call being carried out by a contracted third party on a monthly or quarterly basis to ensure the CCTV system is operating within its specifications.