Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 March 2024
930. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Justice the estimated amount that An Garda Síochána spent on sending out poor quality CCTV camera images to external companies in order to get that quality of the image improved in the years of 2023 and to-date in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12561/24]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business, under Section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended). This includes all operational policing matters. As Minister I have no role in the investigative process or in decisions related to the need for third party technical support for such investigations.
I have contacted the Garda authorities and have been advised that, where appropriate, An Garda Síochána can employ external third party companies to get the image quality improved on CCTV images. In the event that such third party companies are engaged with, this would occur at investigation level through relevant Divisions. Due to the manner in which such costs are recorded it is not possible to provide the figures as requested.
The Electronic Media Unit within Garda ICT is focused on the delivery of support for applications in the forensic retrieval of mobile phones and CCTV data, supporting evidence gathering and compilation of evidence. The unit provides some limited capability to An Garda Síochána centrally, and at Divisional level, for enhancement of CCTV footage in-house by way of third party commercial software.
