Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 February 2023
494. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice the number and percentage of roads policing vehicles that are currently fitted with automatic number plate recognition systems; the amount of funding that has been allocated in 2023 to include additional Garda vehicles with automatic number plate recognition systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9759/23]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business. This includes the management of the Garda Fleet and the allocation of Garda resources, including distribution of funding from the Garda Vote. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions.
I am however assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review. I am advised that this is considered in the context of crime trends and policing priorities, to ensure the optimum use of these resources.
I can also assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to deliver a modern, fit-for-purpose, policing service. Budget 2023 provides record funding of over €2 billion for An Garda Síochána, of which €10m has been allocated for investment in the Garda fleet.
Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) was introduced by the Garda authorities in 2008 and is used on a daily basis to assist in the prevention and detection of crime on our roads network. I am advised that currently 126 Roads Policing vehicles, or 38% of the Roads Policing fleet, are fitted with ANPR capability.
I am advised that the majority of Garda vehicles that are not equipped with ANPR predate 2019. As such, fitting the equipment to some of these vehicles may not be cost-efficient.
I am informed that around half of the outstanding vehicles are Garda motorcycles. These vehicles are not currently being equipped with ANPR capabilities. I am however informed that there are currently 4 ANPR-equipped motorcycles which are testing this capability in this type of vehicle.
An ANPR App is currently in a pilot phase on Garda mobility devices and I am informed that consideration will be given to rolling out the App on conclusion of the pilot phase assessment. For the Deputy's information, at the end of January there were over 10,800 Mobility Devices (both standard devices and active mobility devices) issued to Garda members.
I have also recently introduced the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022 into the Dáil, which will extend the powers governing Garda use of CCTV and ANPR technology to help prevent crime and prosecute those involved in criminal activity in line with the Programme for Government.
