Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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369. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the cost to An Garda Síochána for providing dog kennels in Garda dog handlers' homes, per kennel, in each of the past ten years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40111/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I have sought the information requested by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána, and will contact him again when this is to hand.

Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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370. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the cost to An Garda Síochána for providing electrical vehicle charging points in Garda stations in the Dublin metropolitan region, per station, in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40112/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I have sought the information requested by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána, and will contact him again when this is to hand.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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371. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the amount of funding provided towards Garda airport liaison officers in the years of 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [40124/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Border Management Unit (BMU) in my Department and the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) are working closely with airlines on a range of measures to ensure that passengers have the required documentation when boarding. This includes delivering in-person training to relevant airline ground-handling staff on immigration requirements and false travel documentation. BMU officials are also available 24/7 to assist airlines with any immigration queries.

Up to the end of September, BMU and GNIB have carried out over 6,000 doorstop operations at aircraft to detect passengers who destroyed documents inflight and to identify the point of embarkation of undocumented passengers. My Department has recorded a 34% reduction in 2023 in the number of persons arriving in the State without the correct documentation. 2024 has seen a further reduction in the numbers arriving without documentation.

My Department has committed to provide specific funding to An Garda Síochána (AGS) for a programme to assign Garda Airline Liaison Officers (ALO) to European Transport Hubs to prevent irregular migration. GNIB deployed in one high-risk airport with effect from 1 March 2023. The deployment of this ALO has resulted in a significant decrease in individuals who do not meet travel requirements from entering the State from the designated airport. GNIB continue to explore option to extend these operations into other European airport hubs.

The funding to date provided to AGS for this programme is as follows (this funding is provided by my Department; this does not include wages and other costs which are borne from the Garda Budget and are not included here):

Note: As the programme commenced in 2023, there is no expenditure for 2022.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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372. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 1144 of 9 September 2024, if she has received the necessary information from the Garda authorities in order for this PQ to be answered. [40125/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I understand that Parliamentary Question No. 1144 of 9 September 2024 asked for the number of whole-time equivalent Civilian Forensic Accountants and Analysts currently attached to Garda National Economic Crime Bureau.

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 the allocation of resources. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.

I have been informed by the Garda authorities that there are currently fewer than ten Forensic Accountants attached to the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau. Furthermore, there is currently a competition underway to fill two vacancies that exist within the Bureau.

I am further advised that there are less than ten analysts, who are attached to the Garda Síochána Analysis Service, but are tasked with work associated with the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau.

I am also advised that data is not released by An Garda Síochána for counts of fewer than 10 for data protection reasons, and to prevent identification of individuals.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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373. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the current and capital funding that would be required to increase the capacity of the Garda training college to be able to comfortably train up to 1,500 new recruits each year. [40126/24]

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

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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374. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will report on Garda Operation Cartwheel; the number of persons arrested and charged under this operation; and if this operation is still ongoing at present. [40127/24]

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