Sorca Clarke
Question:639. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice the number of drones owned by An Garda Síochána and the number currently in use as of 3 May 2022, [23110/22]
View answerDáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 May 2022
639. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice the number of drones owned by An Garda Síochána and the number currently in use as of 3 May 2022, [23110/22]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, legislation currently limits the operational use of drones by An Garda Síochána. However, the Garda Síochána (Digital Recording) Bill will provide a legal basis for the wider operational deployment of drones.
The Bill will provide a power for a Garda Member or Garda Staff acting in the course of his or her duties to operate, or cause to be operated, a recording device that is remotely controlled and affixed to or part of an unmanned aerial vehicle. The recording shall be for the purposes of:
(a) Preventing, investigating, detecting or prosecuting criminal offences;
(b) Safeguarding against, and preventing, threats to public security, including securing public safety and public order; or for
(c) protecting the security of the State.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that An Garda Síochána is currently conducting ongoing trials with a number of unmanned aircraft systems (drones) and there is an internal working group tasked with examining the wider potential and scope to use drones to assist in various policing operations.
I am further advised by the Garda authorities that specific task-capable drone models have been identified and 9 drones have been procured for evaluation, training and possible future operational use in the Garda Air Support Unit (GASU). A further 2 drones have been procured by the Garda National Technical Bureau for training purposes.