Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 May 2023
460. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice if gardaí based at the new Garda transport hubs that will be located at both Heuston and Connolly Stations will be deployed on a full-time basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21704/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will appreciate, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) the Commissioner is responsible for the distribution and stationing of the Garda Síochána throughout the State and I am unable to intervene in, nor direct the Commissioner in, these independent decisions.
I wish to inform the Deputy that I was delighted to open the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) Control Centre that re-located to office space within the National Train Control Centre (NTCC) at Heuston Station, which is a new €40 million building funded under the National Development Plan. This is another step forward in modernising An Garda Síochána and strengthening links with public transport operators.
This call and dispatch centre, located on a floor in the new National Train Control Centre in Heuston Station, is the nerve centre to Garda operations in the Dublin Metropolitan region and the personnel working there are the people at the frontline taking sometimes the most challenging and time-sensitive calls. The DMR Control Centre is the busiest of the four regional control centres in An Garda Síochána, with approximately 100 Garda personnel answering between 800 and 1,000 calls per day.
The personnel working there are the people at the frontline taking sometimes the most challenging and time-sensitive calls, doing so in a compassionate and professional manner. It will be Garda staff rather than sworn members who will work out of the Control Centre.
An Garda Síochána also plan to increase their presence in some other stations in the time ahead.
This Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs, with an unprecedented allocation of over €2.14 billion in Budget 2023. The new Control Centre is another step forward in modernising An Garda Síochána and strengthening links with public transport operators.
Functions from Iarnród Éireann and Dublin City Council will be co-located in the building along with the Garda Síochána DMR Control Centre. The location of An Garda Síochána, Iarnród Eireann and Dublin City Council control centres in the same building will help Gardaí to build upon the already excellent relationships they have with public transport providers, particularly in the event of serious emergencies requiring coordinated responses.
An Garda Síochána's mission of 'Keeping People Safe' extends to all areas of our communities, including public transport and the stations that the services operate from. Garda management engages extensively with transport operators nationwide, including the National Transport Authority, Irish Rail (DART and InterCity rail) and Transdev Ireland (Luas) to provide a high visibility presence through a coordinated approach.
