Jim O'Callaghan
Question:223. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the average cost of information technology in each Garda station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31714/18]
View answerThursday, 12 July 2018
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Written answers
The Modernisation and Renewal Programme sets out a series of initiatives which will enable An Garda Síochána to deploy the latest cutting-edge technologies in the fight against crime. In support of this plan, some €342 million, including €217 million under the Capital Plan, is being invested in Garda ICT infrastructure between 2016 and 2021.
As the Deputy will appreciate, decisions in relation to the allocation and management of Garda equipment and resources, including ICT, are a matter for the Garda Commissioner and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the average cost associated with providing ICT to each station is difficult to determine due to the differing sizes of Garda stations, as well as the fact that most Garda ICT systems and services are centrally managed and supported in Garda data centres. Users can then access some or all of these centralised systems and services from PCs, laptops and mobile devices from either a fixed Garda location or in some instances from mobile devices.
Stations are generally supplied with a standard set of ICT equipment including PULSE computers, printers and TETRA Digital Radio sets. There is a large centralised ICT infrastructure linked to localised infrastructure to support all ICT operations. This infrastructure includes, but is not limited to, wide area networks and data centres, both of which incur annual support and maintenance costs.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda ICT budget for 2018 is some €84.5 million. This includes annual software licence costs, support & maintenance costs, ICT skilled resources, ICT hardware, application support for all ICT systems deployed in the organisation, TETRA, networks, telephony support, CCTV support, forensic mobile phone and CCTV equipment, in addition to costs associated with new ICT projects and services under the Modernisation and Renewal Programme.