Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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789. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of penal warrants outstanding in the Garda R District as of 25 October 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45066/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I have been informed by the Garda authorities that there are 829 penal warrants outstanding in the R District.

I am further informed that figures are based on penal warrants outstanding on 25 October 2024 in Coolock (R District). All information contained in this report is based upon operational data from the Pulse system as was available on 31 October 2024, and is liable to change.

As the Deputy may be aware, difficulties in relation to the execution of warrants are a long-standing issue for many police services around the world, notably relating to persons actively seeking to evade detection and where limited identification information might be available to support enforcement. These difficulties are compounded where the warrant has been outstanding for some years.

However, I am assured that An Garda Síochána executes warrants as expeditiously as possible, giving priority to the execution of warrants relating to serious crimes.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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790. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Gardaí, by rank, attached to each divisional scenes of the crime unit as of 29 October 2024, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45067/24]

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.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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791. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda public order unit vans attached to DMR North as of 29 October 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45068/24]

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 €2.48 billion for 2025 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 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 advised by Garda authorities that there are currently 2 vans allocated to the public order unit in the DMR North Division. The responsibility for the efficient deployment of all official Garda vehicles in each Division is assigned to the Divisional Officer, who may allocate vehicles between Stations as required by operational circumstances.

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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792. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of new Garda cars and vans attached to each Garda district within DMR to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45069/24]

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.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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793. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if funding will be provided for mobile fingerprint devices to be made available to frontline Gardaí; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45070/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy may be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for managing and controlling the administration and business of An Garda Síochána and for the allocation of Garda resources, in light of operational demands. This includes responsibility for the allocation of equipment among the various Garda divisions. As Minister, I have no direct role in that matter.

While the Commissioner is responsible for the management of Garda resources, I am in regular contact with him to ensure he has the resources needed to keep people safe. This commitment to supporting An Garda Síochána is reflected in the unprecedented allocation of €2.48 billion in Budget 2024, a 27% increase since 2020. This level of funding is allowing for sustained investment in recruitment, equipment and technology.

I have been informed by Garda authorities that the implementation of mobile fingerprint capabilities is dependent on the implementation of a new biometric (including fingerprint) identification system, which would meet the needs of my Department and Justice Sector agencies.

The requirement for the proposed new system was identified in a report commissioned by my Department. Officials within my Department are currently considering this report and any next steps required.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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794. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of new unmarked motorcycles added to the Garda fleet in the years of 2023 and to date in 2024; the number of unmarked motorcycles withdrawn from the fleet during same period, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45071/24]

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 €2.48 billion for 2025 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 over 3,500 Garda vehicles. This is the largest fleet ever available to An Garda Síochána and represents a 34% increase since 2015.

The below table, provided to me by the Garda authorities, details the number of unmarked motorcycles allocated to and removed from the Garda fleet in 2023 and as of 31 October 2024. 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.