Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 July 2017
284. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will report on the reform of the computer crime investigation unit as outlined in the An Garda Síochána modernisation and renewal programme 2016 to 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31055/17]
View answerLast July, the Government approved a Five Year Reform and High Level Workforce Plan for An Garda Síochána which combines the Government’s response to the Garda Inspectorate report 'Changing Policing in Ireland' and the commitments in the Programme for a Partnership Government aimed at increasing the visibility, effectiveness and responsiveness of An Garda Síochána. The Government agreed that the Garda Commissioner's Modernisation and Renewal Programme (MRP) 2016-2021 would be the vehicle for implementation of the Inspectorate recommendations aimed at the Garda organisation. In support of this plan, Budget 2017 provided funding to continue to expand the number of Gardaí towards 15,000, to double the Reserve to 2,000 and to double the number of civilians to 4,000 by 2021. In addition, the plan is supported by substantial capital investment of some €310 million in critical ICT infrastructure, the fleet and other Garda facilities.
Robust independent oversight is essential to ensuring that the pursuit of the reform programme is relentless over the next 5 years. To ensure that this is case, the 240 agreed recommendations of 'Changing Policing in Ireland' have been referred to the Policing Authority to monitor and assess their implementation by An Garda Síochána and to report progress to me on a quarterly basis. The first two progress reports from the Authority, received in January and April, have been published on my Department's website.
It is the most ambitious programme of reform ever embarked on by the organisation and due to the scale of the programme, a phased planning approach is essential. In this regard the Commissioner has advised that some initiatives will be implemented in the short to medium term, while others will require a number of years to implement fully.
In relation to the area of cyber crime the MRP provides for the review and restructuring of the Computer Crime Investigation Unit, originally a unit under the auspices of the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation. The aim of the initiative is to establish a dedicated cyber crime bureau to ensure An Garda Síochána has the capacity and capabilities to deal with cyber crime and cyber security. I am informed that the Garda Cyber Crime Bureau (GCCB) was established on 1 September 2016 under the direction of the Detective Chief Superintendent, Garda National Economic Crime Bureau and Assistant Commissioner, Special Crime Operations. The GCCB is headed up by a Detective Superintendent who was appointed in August 2016. The GCCB has responsibility for the forensic examination of all seized computer media, international liaison with regard to cyber matters and the investigation of cyber crime matters including banking and financial crimes, and child pornography and exploitation. The allocation of further resources to the GCCB including Garda members, specialist professional staff and support staff, is in train to support the further development of the GCCB.
In addition, I am informed that the roll-out continues on a phased basis of regional triage units, which have been established in two regions to date - the Southern and South-Eastern Regions. The triage model provides a tiered response and capability for computer forensic services on a regional basis, utilising locally-based and trained first-responders and cyber triage specialists. The triage model also reduces demands on the GCCB, while remaining under the supervision of the Detective Superintendent of the Bureau. The triage units currently in place are subject of review to inform and establish best practices and processes for the establishment of further such units in other regions.
