Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 1 Jun 2000

Vol. 520 No. 3

Written Answers. - Garda Technology.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

124 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if state of the art technology is available to the gardaí at all locations throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15745/00]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

I can inform the Deputy that major developments in the area of technology for the Garda have been ongoing in recent years.

Development work on the new Garda IT systems known as the PULSE project began in August 1996 and was expected to take four years to complete. The aim of this project is to provide the Garda with state-of-the-art systems in 17 operational areas. Much of the development work involved original design of software and systems. Work on the first two planned releases was completed last year and these are being rolled out to Garda stations. In the meantime, planning and design of a further two releases for later this year is ongoing.

The new PULSE system, which has been installed in 181 Garda stations/offices throughout the country, represents a major change in how gardaí record incidents and crimes and a major feature of the PULSE project is to equip and skill all members of the Garda to use the systems.

The existing Garda radio network will soon be replaced with a new digital trunked radio system constructed to the EU TETRA standard. Work on this project is progressing and it is hoped that a pilot system will be operational early next year.

The Garda telephone network is currently being upgraded from analogue to digital systems which support facilities including direct dial inwards, DDI, and calling line identification, CLI. Plans are in place to establish a call handling control facility in the Dublin area enabling the public to contact any Garda station in the area by dialling one number. It is also planned to extend this type of facility countrywide.

An air support unit, including a fixed wing aircraft and helicopter equipped with the most modern technology, has been introduced. A second helicopter is also being provided. This will greatly expand the area of operations of the air support unit and allow for 24 hour availability of air support in the ongoing fight against crime.

A high speed patrol boat for use by the Garda water unit in policing inland waterways was launched last month. The boat is equipped with sophisticated navigational and tactical equipment which will greatly enhance the crime fighting capability of the Garda Síochána. The boat has, for example, the latest modern communications equipment which can link directly with the Garda air support unit, thereby ensuring the Garda Síochána has an extensive array of technology to assist them in the fight against all types of crime, whether on land, water or air.

Garda closed circuit television schemes, CCTV, as aids to policing, have been introduced in Dublin and Tralee. The system in Dublin is currently being extended to include Grafton Street and its surrounding areas. A CCTV system is also being installed in Cork city. A review of CCTV is being carried out and is expected to be completed soon. Its findings will then be submitted to me for consideration. I expect that these findings will assist in facilitating and accelerating the installation of additional Garda CCTV systems in the future.