Bernard Durkan
Question:114. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the strength of An Garda Síochána will increase over the next five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3437/16]
View answerGarda Strength
Questions (114)
Written answers
As the Deputy will appreciate the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel among the Garda Regions, Divisions, and Districts. Garda management keep this distribution under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of resources. I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that the overall number of personnel available to An Garda Síochána at the end of December 2015 was close to 16,000 comprising 12,817 Gardaí, 953 Garda Reserve members and over 2,000 civilians.
This Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the capacity to provide effective and visible policing throughout the country. A crucial element of the Government's strategy is ensuring ongoing seamless recruitment to renew An Garda Síochána. With this in mind Budget 2016 made provision for the recruitment of 600 new Gardaí this year bringing to 1,150 the number of new Gardaí who will have been recruited since the reopening of the Garda College in Templemore in September 2014. Budget 2016 has also provided funding for the recruitment of additional civilians, in particular to develop the Garda ICT investment programme.
To date there have been six intakes of Garda Trainees to the Garda College, giving a total intake of 550 with a further intake provisionally scheduled for 11 April 2016. So far 296 of these new recruits have been fully attested and are undertaking Garda duties in communities nationwide. In order to fulfil the recruitment commitment for 2016 a new recruitment campaign was launched last November. That campaign, which closed on 6 January, has attracted strong interest with in the region of 16,500 applications received by the Public Appointments Service which is organising the competition on behalf of the Garda Commissioner.
It is expected that a further 395 will attest by the end of this year which, taking account of projected retirements, will bring Garda numbers to around the 13,000 mark. I expect recruitment to continue at or around the current levels for the next number of years having regard to factors such as the level of retirements in any one year.
Garda Resources
Questions (115)
Bernard Durkan
Question:115. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if An Garda Síochána has access to the most modern forensics to facilitate the fight against crime, including state-of-the-art telecommunications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3438/16]
View answerWritten answers
Under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the day to day management of the Force and the distribution of available resources. This includes personnel, Garda vehicles and the various technologies utilised to support front-line Gardaí and intelligence-led operations against organised crime.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that they are continually looking to ensure that the latest information, communications and forensic technologies are sourced and deployed to achieve their strategic objectives as set out in the context of their annual policing plans, as provided for in section 22 of the 2005 Act. This policy is designed to ensure that the Garda Síochána will be properly resourced to meet the evolving needs of a modern effective police force and take advantage of proven up to date technological developments in crime detection and prevention as they occur.
In terms of existing technology, the Deputy will be aware that a considerable amount of new Garda ICT solutions has been delivered over the past number of years. These include the deployment of a secure national digital radio system (NDRS), the deployment and support of Garda and Community CCTV systems, an automated number plate recognition (ANPR) system, and the addition of many new functions to the PULSE system, which itself is further supported by a dedicated Garda data entry service in Castlebar. The substantial additional investment of €205 million in new technology and systems for An Garda Síochána provided under the Capital Plan 2016-2021 will facilitate progress on further important reforms arising from the Garda Inspectorate's report on Crime Investigation. Examples of the new systems to be developed through this investment include:
- new computer-aided dispatch to ensure responsive and coordinated deployment of Gardaí in the community;
- mobile technology to give the Gardaí secure mobile access to critical information when and where they need it;
- investigations management systems to ensure enhanced management of crime investigations; and
- upgrading the ANPR to enhance policing of road safety and compliance.
The 2016 Budget allocation of €1.5 billion for An Garda Síochána includes over €67 million in additional funding which, in addition to the recruitment of new trainee Gardaí, also provides additional funding for Garda Surveillance, special operations and targeted, intelligence-led policing. This additional recruitment and budget allocation builds on the current high level of investment in Garda vehicles. We have invested over €34 million in new Garda vehicles since 2012 with over 640 new vehicles coming on stream since the start of 2015. The Government's Capital Plan 2016-2021 provides for a further €46 million of investment in vehicles as well as an additional €205 million for Information and Communications Technology which will allow An Garda Síochána to deploy the latest cutting edge technologies in the fight against crime. Taken together, this step-change in investment in policing demonstrates this Governments commitment to investing in 21st Century policing and will ensure that the Gardaí can be mobile, visible and responsive, on the roads and in the community to prevent and tackle crime.
In the area of forensics, the Garda authorities currently employ highly sophisticated ICT - based fingerprint and ballistics identification systems which I am informed measure up to those used by police forces in other EU jurisdictions. I understand that the Irish National Accreditation Board will shortly be presenting a Certificate of Accreditation to the Garda Technical Bureau for attaining the ISO 17025: 2005 standard for laboratories.
The Garda Síochána are also supported by Forensic Science Ireland who provide state of the art services in the area of drug analysis, trace evidence. The Deputy will also be aware of the recent launch of the national DNA database which will greatly enhance the investigation of crime in Ireland.
These and other new technological solutions, as well as the investment in resources, will ensure that An Garda Síochána has the capacity to provide effective policing services in respond to the evolving challenges of modern day criminal activity.
Garda Strength
Questions (116)
Bernard Durkan
Question:116. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the strength of An Garda Síochána as at 31 December in each of the past ten years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3439/16]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy will appreciate the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel among the Garda Regions, Divisions, and Districts. Garda management keep this distribution under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of resources. I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that the overall number of personnel available to An Garda Síochána on the 31 December was close to 16,000 comprising 12,817 Gardaí, 953 Garda Reserve members and over 2,000 civilians. The number of Gardaí as of the 31 December 2005 to 31 December 2015 was as set out in the following table.
This Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the capacity to provide effective and visible policing throughout the country. A crucial element of the Government's strategy is ensuring ongoing seamless recruitment to renew An Garda Síochána. With this in mind Budget 2016 made provision for the recruitment of 600 new Gardaí this year bringing to 1,150 the number of new Gardaí who will have been recruited since the reopening of the Garda College in Templemore in September 2014. Budget 2016 has also provided funding for the recruitment of additional civilians, in particular to develop the Garda ICT investment programme.
To date there have been six intakes of Garda Trainees to the Garda College, giving a total intake of 550 with a further intake provisionally scheduled for 11 April 2016. So far 296 of these new recruits have been fully attested and are undertaking Garda duties in communities nationwide. In order to fulfil the recruitment commitment for 2016 a new recruitment campaign was launched last November. That campaign, which closed on 6 January, has attracted strong interest with in the region of 16,500 applications received by the Public Appointments Service which is organising the competition on behalf of the Garda Commissioner.
|
Year |
No. of Gardaí |
|
31/12/2005 |
12,264 |
|
31/12/2006 |
12,954 |
|
31/12/2007 |
13,755 |
|
31/12/2008 |
14,412 |
|
31/12/2009 |
14,547 |
|
31/12/2010 |
14,377 |
|
31/12/2011 |
13,894 |
|
31/12/2012 |
13,424 |
|
31/12/2013 |
13,093 |
|
31/12/2014 |
12,799 |
|
31/12/2015 |
12,817 |
Organised Crime
Questions (117, 122)
Bernard Durkan
Question:117. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of members of criminal gangs apprehended, prosecuted and incarcerated in each of the past eight years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3440/16]
View answerBernard Durkan
Question:122. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she has conducted studies into the structures, modus operandi, strength and arms available to and through criminal gangs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3445/16]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 117 and 122 together.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that organised criminal groups are fluid in nature and merge and split on a continuing basis, including through transnational links. In addition, offences committed by members of criminal gangs may or may not be connected with an individual's membership of such gangs. In this context, I hope the Deputy will appreciate that it is not feasible to provide accurate statistical information in the format requested.
However, I can assure the Deputy that addressing such criminality remains a key ongoing priority for both the Government and for An Garda Síochána. In this regard An Garda Síochána's Policing Plan sets out its continued commitment to pro-actively target groups and individuals engaged in criminal activity, including organised criminal activities. Gardai continue to utilise all available legislation, including the amendments to the Criminal Justice Act, 2006 introduced by the Oireachtas in 2009 to strengthen the range of measures available to combat organised crime groups.
An Garda Síochána also continues to develop and implement operations and strategies to target, dismantle and disrupt criminal networks, utilising advanced analytical and intelligence methodologies. Multi-disciplinary approaches are utilised to ensure that the activities of individuals and groups involved in criminal enterprise are effectively targeted, including through the use of the Proceeds of Crimes legislation, money-laundering legislation and the powers of the Criminal Assets Bureau, as well as cooperation with Customs, other police forces, Europol and Interpol. Furthermore, An Garda Síochána proactively participate in international exchange of information on emerging crime trends and training facilitated by CEPOL, Europol and Interpol.
In recent years Garda operations have led to the seizure of a considerable volume of drugs as well as the arrest and prosecution of criminal gang members and the dismantling a number of organised crime groups who were operating in this jurisdiction.
In conclusion, I can assure the Deputy that I, and the Government, remain committed to doing all that we can to support An Garda Síochána in opposing organised crime in all its forms.
Criminal Assets Bureau
Questions (118)
Bernard Durkan
Question:118. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the Criminal Assets Bureau has successfully prosecuted and convicted various criminal elements over the past eight years; if funds have been recovered for the taxpayer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3441/16]
View answerWritten answers
The statutory remit of the Criminal Assets Bureau is set out in the Criminal Assets Bureau Acts 1996 and 2005.
In summary, the Bureau's objectives are to identify the assets of persons which derive or are suspected to derive from criminal conduct and to deny or to deprive those persons of the assets or the benefits of such assets.
With regard to the prosecution of offences, as the Deputy will appreciate the prosecution of offences is a matter for the Director of Public Prosecutions. On occasion the Bureau does investigate criminal matters which may result in criminal prosecutions, although this is not its primary function.
In accordance with section 21 of the Criminal Assets Bureau Act 1996, an annual report on the activities of the Criminal Assets Bureau is prepared and laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.
Included in these reports are details of all monies returned by the Bureau for the benefit of the Exchequer and the number of applications made by the Bureau under the provisions of the Proceeds of Crime Act, the Tax Code, the Social Welfare Code and the Criminal Code. I am further informed that in circumstances where criminal prosecutions have been taken the Bureau has endeavoured to outline such cases in its Annual Reports.
The Annual Reports of the Bureau are publicly available documents and are published on the Department's website at www.justice.ie.
Crime Levels
Questions (119)
Bernard Durkan
Question:119. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the number of crimes reported to An Garda Síochána has fluctuated over the past eight years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3442/16]
View answerWritten answers
The Garda Síochána Act 2005 makes provision for the compilation and publication of crime statistics by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose.
I have requested the CSO to provide the available statistical information setting out crime trends over the years in question directly to the Deputy and can assure him that all such trends are monitored on an ongoing basis by the Garda authorities, and that I am in regular contact with the Garda Commissioner in relation to the development of effective law enforcement responses accordingly.