Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 September 2012
178. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the degree to which modern technology has been made available to all Garda stations throughout the country; the number, if any, of such stations in urban and rural areas still awaiting such provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39595/12]
View answerI am advised by the Garda authorities that there are 424 Garda network locations in the country and they have also indicated that the current arrangements meet their requirements. The extension of the Garda network to additional locations is reviewed on an ongoing basis in the light of operational demands. Considerable resources are required to link stations to the Garda network and all non-networked stations have secure voice communications to a networked station.
The networked locations account for approx 90% of all incidents recorded on PULSE, which is complemented by the Garda Information Services Centre in Castlebar where details of incidents are phoned in by investigating members attached to networked and non-networked stations. In addition, the Deputy will be aware that the nationwide delivery of the National Digital Radio Service to the Garda Síochána was completed in 2011. Building on the delivery of this service, the Garda Síochána are pursuing further opportunities to enhance their communications systems, including an expansion of Computer Aided Dispatch systems to all Garda Regions.
