Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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548. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 511 of 18 September 2024, if she has received the necessary information from the Garda authorities in order to answer the question; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42484/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I refer to your Parliamentary Question No. 511 of 18 September 2024 asking about the number of Gardaí, by rank, attached to the Garda National Protective Services Bureau as of 9 September 2024 and the corresponding figures as of 31 December 2022, in tabular form.

As you will appreciate, the management of Garda resources is an operational matter for the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána but to be of assistance, I committed to responding to this question once the relevant information had been received from An Garda Síochána.

The Garda National Protective Services Bureau (GNPSB) provides advice, guidance and assistance to gardaí investigating the following: sexual crime, online child exploitation, domestic abuse, human trafficking, organised prostitution, specialist interview, sex offender management, missing persons and support for victims of crime.

The bureau leads the investigation in more complex cases.

I am informed by Garda authorities that there is a current competition to fill Garda Sergeant and Inspector positions in the unit.

In relation to the specific information sought by the Deputy, that information is presented in the tables below.

I am further informed that in line with recent direction, AGS only report numbers at the end of month, the table below has been given to reflect figures as of end of August 2024.

31 Dec 2022

Asterix * denotes a figure that is less than 10

• CR – Garda Commissioner
• DC – Deputy Garda Commissioner
• AC - Assistant Garda Commissioner
• CS – Chief Superintendent
• SU - Superintendent
• IN - Inspector
• SG - Sergeant
• GD – Garda

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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549. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the estimated full year costs if a defibrillator was provided to each Garda station that has opened on a 24-7 basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42485/24]

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, including the provision of equipment and facilities, under section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended). As Minister, I have no direct role in these processes.

I am informed by Garda Authorities that they are not in a position at this time to accurately estimate the full year costs if a defibrillator was provided to each Garda station that has opened on a 24-7 basis. This would require the estimation of the number of devices required, a specification for the actual devices to be agreed and then would require a tender for supply, installation, maintenance and training of Garda staff and Garda members.

It is expected that this would take some time, with expert medical support required in the evaluation of different devices, as there are a number of suppliers and devices in the market with a huge variety in prices.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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550. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she has met with the chief superintendent of Dublin Metropolitan Region West to date in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42486/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I can inform the Deputy that I last met with Chief Superintendent McNulty in August 2023 during a visit to Blanchardstown Garda Station.

I can 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.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that, at the end of June 2024, the latest date for which figures are available, there were a total of 714 Garda members assigned to Dublin Metropolitan Region West, representing an increase of around 4% since 2015.

335 Gardaí are assigned to the Blanchardstown District, 197 are assigned to the Clondalkin District, and 182 are assigned to the Lucan District. In 2024 to date, 66 probationer Gardaí have been assigned to DMR West.

There are also 117 vehicles from the garda fleet assigned to DMR West.

Budget 2025 provides the highest ever allocation to An Garda Síochána. Over €2.48 billion has been allocated, which is a 27% increase since 2020, demonstrating 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.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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551. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of kennels currently vacant within the Garda dog unit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42487/24]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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553. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of stables that are currently vacant within Garda mounted unit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42491/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 551 and 553 together.

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.

The Garda Mounted Unit is based at Áras an Úachtaráin, Phoenix Park, Dublin 8 and has a national remit.

I am advised that there are no vacant stables at the Garda Mounted Unit. There are 15 stables attached to the unit, all of which are in use for the stabling of current mounts, mounts on trial and future mounts.

The Garda Dog Unit is based at Kilmainham Garda Station, in the Dublin Metropolitan Region and has a national remit.

I am advised that kennelling facilities are provided to Garda members assigned to the Dog Unit to accommodate the dogs assigned to them. I am further advised that some kennels may at times be temporarily unoccupied for a period of time while an animal is being sourced for training purposes.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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552. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of new Garda roads policing unit vehicles that came into the fleet during 2023 and to date in 2024; the number of Garda roads policing unit vehicles withdrawn from the fleet during same period, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42490/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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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 is reflected in the unprecedented allocation of over €2.48 billion to An Garda Síochána, a 27% increase since 2020.

There are now over 3,500 Garda vehicles. This is the largest fleet ever available to An Garda Síochána and represents a 34% increase since 2015.

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 the below table shows vehicles allocated to and removed from Roads Policing Duty in 2023 and in 2024 as of 30 September 2024.

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.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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554. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Gardaí, by rank, attached to Garda national economic crime bureau as of 14 October 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42492/24]

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 when this is to hand.

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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555. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality for an update on Operation Tombola this year in Cork city. [42505/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, each year in the run up to Halloween, additional efforts are made by An Garda Síochána to combat the illegal importation, sale and use of fireworks, under what is known as Operation Tombola. Operation Tombola is a national operation.

Each Regional Assistant Commissioner ensures that appropriate measures are put in place in each Division to prevent and detect the organised importation for sale of fireworks in the lead up to Halloween. This operation also focuses on preventing associated public disorder and anti-social behaviour through the incremental deployment of resources, including Garda Public Order Units to augment local plans as appropriate.

Policing plans under the auspices of Operation Tombola include an overt uniform presence and covert element where appropriate, and local Garda management engage with relevant stakeholders including the local authorities to identify, co-ordinate and implement an appropriate multi-agency strategy for the Halloween period.

Part 6 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 gives An Garda Síochána the power to make arrests in relation to the possession of unlicensed fireworks. An example of the penalties faced include a fine of up to €10,000 and up to five years' imprisonment if convicted of having fireworks in your possession with intent to sell or supply.

Igniting fireworks or throwing an ignited firework at a person or property is also liable to the same severe penalty. These penalties demonstrate the seriousness attached to breaches of the legislation governing the importation and use of fireworks.

I am advised by An Garda Síochána that there have been no fireworks seized to date in the Cork City Division under Operation Tombola.

There was one incident recorded where fireworks were activated in the Douglas area of Cork City, and Cork City Units will continue to record all incidents connected with Operation Tombola.