I propose to take Questions Nos. 343 to 349, inclusive, together.
I am informed by the Garda Síochána that emergency classification is given to calls of top priority, whether received as 999 calls or otherwise. They are calls reporting the activities of armed persons and-or robberies. Reports of bombs, incendiary devices, radioactivity or hazardous chemicals are also classed as emergency as are reports of aircraft in trouble, train accidents and prison breaks.
It is Garda Síochána policy that all calls received at a station relating to crimes or incidents are recorded on the command and control system, with particular emphasis on emergency-priority calls.
Because of the way management reports are programmed on the command and control system, it is not possible to state the average response time to emergency calls.
It can be stated however, that 88% of emergency calls for the Dublin metropolitan region were dealt with within 15 minutes during the month of October.
Unfortunately, it has not been possible to compile the figures relating to the number of emergency calls received by the command and control centre, with a yearly and monthly breakdown but as soon as I have those figures, I will forward them to the Deputy.
However, the number of incidents, in the various Garda divisions of the Dublin metropolitan region, for which emergency calls were received, for the month of October 1999, is as follows: