Written answers

Wednesday, 22 January 2025

Department of Justice and Equality

An Garda Síochána

Photo of Alan KellyAlan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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915. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of metal detectors currently owned by An Garda Síochána. [46291/24]

Photo of Helen McEnteeHelen 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 and administration of Garda business, including the allocation of resources, and all operational policing decisions. As Minister, I have no responsibility for these matters.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that this PQ in its current form is too broad and cannot meaningfully be answered. There are a number of items of equipment that would fall under the description of metal detector, including:

  • Search wands
  • Airport style walk through detectors
  • Beach Metal detectors used for searching lands
  • Underwater metal detectors
I am advised that these items are not stored centrally and there is unlikely to be a central registry of what is available. Many of these items are hired or leased for operations that may arise, or may have been purchased locally by sections/units, the result of which would be that procurement would not have a record. This would ultimately require that the information requested be sought from all sections across the organisation seeking a return to allow for the creation of a central register of items of equipment that may fall under the description of “metal detectors”.

Photo of Alan KellyAlan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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916. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of promotions from the rank of sergeant to inspector within An Garda Síochána that occurred in 2024. [46292/24]

Photo of Helen McEnteeHelen 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 under section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), including the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff. Appointments to ranks above Garda in An Garda Síochána are governed by relevant legislation.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that the number of promotions from the rank of Sergeant to Inspector within An Garda Síochána that occurred in 2024 was 29.

Photo of Alan KellyAlan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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917. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 783 of 5 November 2024, if she has received the necessary information from Garda authorities in order to have this PQ answered. [46293/24]

Photo of Helen McEnteeHelen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 783 of 5 November 2024 where you sought, "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".

The Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities, and strengthening An Garda Síochána is at the core of that. We will continue to provide An Garda Síochána with the resources it needs to ensure communities around Ireland are safe and feel safe, including to invest in recruitment, in equipment and technology and in buildings. This is reflected in the unprecedented allocation of over €2.48 billion to An Garda Síochána, in Budget 2025, a 27% increase since 2020. This funding allows for the continued recruitment of Garda members and staff.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business, including the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff, under section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended). As Minister, I have no direct role in the Garda recruitment process.

I am informed by the Garda Authorities that An Garda Síochána is currently reviewing Garda Trainee recruitment and training capacity, in conjunction with other stakeholders, and the matters raised by the Deputy are being considered as part of that process. As such, a detailed estimate of potential costs associated with expanding the current capacity to provide training for Garda Trainees is not available at this time.

Photo of Alan KellyAlan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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918. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the amount spent on purchasing new mountain bikes for An Garda Síochána in 2024. [46294/24]

Photo of Helen McEnteeHelen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As you will be aware the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes the purchasing and distribution of Garda resources.

The Government is committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána have the resources they need which is reflected in the unprecedented allocation of over €2.48 billion in Budget 2025. This funding is allowing for sustained investment in recruitment, technology and equipment.

I am informed by Garda authorities that An Garda Síochána have spent €307,500 (inclusive of VAT) on 200 mountain bikes in 2024.

I am further advised that the purchase and allocation of bicycles by An Garda Síochána is made on the basis of identified operational demands and the availability of resources and is reviewed on a continual basis.

Photo of Paul DonnellyPaul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)
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919. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the locations within Dublin Metropolitan Region where Gardaí participate in the business watch scheme; the rank of Gardaí that participate in these meetings, by location; and the frequency of those meetings, by location, in tabular form. [46306/24]

Photo of Helen McEnteeHelen 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, this includes all Garda HR matters and the distribution of Garda members throughout the State. As Minister I have no role in these matters

To be of assistance, I have sought an update on this matter from An Garda Síochána. I am informed that the Business Watch Scheme is a Crime Prevention Programme designed by An Garda Síochána. It is founded on the practice of both the Gardaí and local businesses coming together to prevent and reduce crime.

Business Watch provides a framework within which the business community can join together and be instrumental in preventing crime in their own community through awareness and observation.

While the key participants in Business Watch are the members themselves, An Garda Síochána play an important role in providing specialist Crime Prevention advice and through active liaison with the Business Watch Committee to address crime and related issues as they arise.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that the attached spreadsheet sets out the details of the Business Watch Schemes across the Dublin Metropolitan Region.

Photo of Paul DonnellyPaul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)
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920. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 524 of 18 September 2024, if she has received the necessary information from Garda Authorities in order for this PQ to be answered. [46307/24]

Photo of Helen McEnteeHelen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I understand that Parliamentary Question No 524 of 18 September 2024 sought information on 'when the Garda manual was last updated with regard to the pursuit of riders on e-scooters, motorcycles and e-bikes travelling at high speed on public roads, public open area fields, public parks, etc., who are at high risk of endangering other road users.'

As the Deputy will appreciate, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business. This includes the training of Garda personnel and setting of operational policing, enforcement and investigative policies for the service. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that Assistant Commissioner, Roads Policing & Community Engagement has issued an updated ‘Spontaneous Pursuits Policy’ recently, to provide direction to Gardaí who engage in the use of pursuit tactics and pursuit management, in order to reduce the risk associated with pursuits and stopping of subject vehicles. The pursuit policy aims to promote accurate recording of information, intelligence, decisions and rationale by Gardaí involved in overt managed pursuits and the stopping of subject vehicles; and to ensure Garda members consider the human rights of all when engaging in managed pursuits.

Under the policy, the first priority should be to prevent a pursuit from taking place. Any decision to engage in a pursuit must be done in the interests of public safety, to protect life, to prevent crime and to apprehend offenders, in line with the statutory obligations of An Garda Síochána as set out in the Garda Síochána Act 2005.

The Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023 provides additional powers to An Garda Síochána to stop and seize vehicles, including e-scooters and motorcycles, being driven dangerously. The recent amendments made to section 53 (Dangerous Driving) and the insertion of the new powers under section 109A of the Road Traffic Act 1961 have increased the capabilities of An Garda Síochána in tacking such behaviour and ensured there is an effective legislative framework for addressing the dangerous use of these vehicles on our roads.

Additionally I am advised that the use of mechanically propelled vehicles, including e-scooters, in a public place is subject to all road traffic legislation. The use of scramblers, mopeds and quads in public parks and open spaces is governed by Local Authorities under Parks & Open Spaces Bye-Laws 2011 or similar legislation in use in other Local Authority areas.

Any mechanically propelled vehicle being driven in a public place can be seized under Section 41 of the Road Traffic Act in the absence of the appropriate, driving licence, Insurance or Certificate of Road Worthiness.

An Garda Síochána continue to educate all road users in their attitudes and behaviour and, when necessary, detecting and intercepting dangerous drivers and those who refuse to comply with road traffic laws.

The Deputy will be aware that there are serious challenges from an enforcement perspective when attempting to apprehend persons engaging in this dangerous and anti-social behaviour.

Interception poses significant risks, not only to the drivers and passengers of these vehicles, but also to members of the public and local Gardaí in affected communities.

Gardaí are required to carry out a risk assessment as to how they should respond to each individual case presented before them. They must operate within the law and be mindful of the dangers to themselves, members of the public present, the rider and the issues involved with a pursuit of this type, which could have serious or even fatal consequences.

It is important to note that Gardaí have other enforcement options open to them, including investigative expertise to locate and question suspected persons after the fact which would pose less of a risk to public safety.

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