Dick Spring
Ceist:153 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress made to date in bringing the Garda PULSE computer system into operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25769/00]
Written Answers. - PULSE Computer System.
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:253 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of Garda stations throughout the country that are PULSE on-line; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26058/00]
The PULSE IT system has been installed in 181 Garda stations-offices throughout the country. These include all Garda stations which are open on a 24 hour-seven day basis, and embrace all district and divisional headquarters. The locations were selected as they capture the bulk of Garda workload on a daily basis, and are linked to the Garda IT centre in Dublin via the PULSE data communications network.
Due to the scale and complexity of the PULSE project, it was decided that the system would be delivered in two releases, with the first release being further divided into three – each release building on the other. The first two parts of the first release have been implemented and are operational at the 181 locations mentioned above. I understand that, after some teething problems, the system is now very stable and performing well, and that operational successes directly attributable to PULSE have been achieved.
The remaining PULSE functionality will be implemented via the remaining part of the first release and the second release. The final part of the first release is expected to be delivered in the first quarter of 2001, and the second release is anticipated during the third quarter of 2001. PULSE is expected to be fully operational at the end of 2001.
To date, over 11,000 gardaí and civilian personnel have been trained to carry out inquiries on the PULSE system. Initially, a core group of gardaí had been trained to undertake incident capture. This training has now commenced for the remainder of the force.