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Garda Deployment

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 March 2021

Wednesday, 24 March 2021

Questions (1261)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

1261. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Justice the number of staff currently working in cybersecurity within An Garda Síochána. [15213/21]

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Written answers

As the Deputy will be aware, cyber security is primarily the responsibility of the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), under the auspices of the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications. The 2nd National Cyber Security Strategy was approved by Government in late 2019 and published by the then Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment in December 2019. Progress of the Strategy is being monitored by an Inter Departmental Steering Committee of which my Department is a member. This group meets on a quarterly basis.

The vision behind the revised Strategy is to allow Ireland to continue to safely enjoy the benefits of the digital revolution and to play a full part in shaping the future of the Internet. This involves protection from cyber security threats, development of capacity to understand and manage the challenges and opportunities in this space, and engagement in a strategic manner nationally and internationally.

The objectives of the Strategy are:

- Continue to improve the ability of the State to respond to and manage cyber security incidents, including those with a national security component.

- Identify and protect critical national infrastructure by increasing its resilience to cyber-attack and ensuring that appropriate incident response plans are in place.

- Improve the resilience and security of public sector IT systems to better protect services that our people rely upon, and their data.

- Invest in educational initiatives to prepare the workforce for advanced IT and cybersecurity careers.

- Raise awareness of the responsibilities of businesses and to drive research and development in cyber security in Ireland.

- Continue to engage with international partners and international organisations to ensure that cyber space remains open, secure, unitary and free and able to facilitate economic and social development.

- Increase the general level of skills and awareness among private individuals around basic cyber hygiene practices and to support them in this by means of information and training.

As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources among the various Garda Divisions and Districts. As Minister, I have no direct role in the matter.  I am assured by the Commissioner that personnel assignments, together with the overall policing arrangements and operational strategies, are continually monitored and reviewed in light of policing needs. 

I am informed by the Commissioner that, on foot of a review of the Computer Crime Investigation Unit under the Garda Síochána’s Modernisation and Renewal Programme 2016-2021, a dedicated Garda Cyber Crime Bureau (GCCB) was established in September 2016 to ensure that An Garda Síochána has the capacity and capabilities to deal with cyber crime and cyber security threats.

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. Cases examined by the GCCB include all crime-types, in particular banking and financial crime matters, as well as the examination of equipment and media to assess images in the context of offences relating to child pornography and exploitation.

The table below, which has been provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of Gardaí and Garda staff assigned to the Cyber Crime Bureau at 28 February 2021, the latest date for which figures are available.

28 February 2021

Garda

Sergeant

Inspector

Superintendent

Chief   Superintendent

Total 

Total

16

2

0

1

1

20

Garda Staff 

CO

EO

HEO

Total

Total

3

2

1

6

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