Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 May 2010
145 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the degree to which all Garda stations throughout the country have been provided with PULSE and or other up to date communications facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19757/10]
View answer148 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of Garda stations currently fully equipped with the most modern communications technology; the number of such stations without or deficient in such technology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19760/10]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 145 and 148 together.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that there are 349 locations on the Garda Information Systems (GIS) network, which includes access to PULSE, Fixed Charge Processing System (FCPS), Automatic Fingerprint Information System (AFIS) and Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB). These locations provide approximately 87% of Garda personnel with access to GIS and account for the capture of over 85% of incidents. In addition, the Garda Information Service Centre (GISC) in Castlebar, which is staffed primarily by civilian staff, has access to the PULSE system for recording of incident details phoned in by investigating members and from any location thereby obviating the need for Members themselves to return to a PULSE terminal to record incidents.
Access to email is provided to Garda personnel as required based on operational demands and business needs. Internal email is currently provided to 13,580 Garda staff and external email facilities to 4,835 staff including all Gardaí from the rank of Sergeant upwards. An intranet facility known as the Garda Portal is also available in all networked locations providing rapid up to date communications on various administrative and operational matters.
There are approximately 7000 PC's in operation across the entire Garda organisation (which includes those networked to the GIS). There are also approximately 4,500 printers, which include multi-function units that provide additional administrative capabilities for scanning and photocopying.
Garda authorities also plan to network up to an additional 60 stations by the end of 2010. In addition, a project to provide mobile access to Garda Information Systems is under consideration by Garda management. If implemented this will provide operational Gardaí with mobile access to the various systems available on the GIS network.
In addition to rollout of the Garda Information Systems network and associated email services, Garda authorities advise that the National Digital Radio System (NDRS) has been rolled out to all Divisions in the Dublin Metropolitan Region, Eastern Region, Southern Region and the Louth Division covering 336 Garda Stations. Over 10,000 handsets are now live on the new system which is scheduled to be operational nationwide by the first Quarter of 2011. In the meantime Gardaí in those areas not yet covered by the new system will continue to avail of existing radio systems.
Additional systems and technologies are being implemented in line with An Garda Síochána's ICT Strategy (2005-2010). A new ICT Strategy, which will supersede the current one, will be delivered in 2010 to map out future technologies required to support An Garda Síochána in delivering the business objectives as set out in the business strategy (2010-2012).
