Thomas P. Broughan
Ceist:
457. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when vehicle number recognition systems will be installed in all Garda patrol cars; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24386/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra
The Deputy will appreciate that the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the provision of equipment and resources to An Garda Síochána and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter.
I have asked the Garda Commissioner for the specific information requested and when it is to hand I will inform the Deputy accordingly.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A
I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 457 for answer on 12 June 2018 in which the Deputy asked when vehicle number recognition systems will be installed in all Garda patrol cars.
The Deputy will recall, the information you requested could not be obtained in the time available, and I undertook to contact him again when the information was to hand.
As the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for the provision of equipment and resources to An Garda Síochána, and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter.
I am now informed by the Garda authorities that Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) was introduced into An Garda Síochána in 2008 and is fitted in a number of official Garda vehicles which are allocated around the country and used on a daily basis to assist, through law enforcement, the prevention and detection of crime on our roads network.
I am advised that the number of vehicles fitted with ANPR equipment can vary on a daily basis, due to operational requirements, including repair and maintenance of equipment, update of software, decommission of damaged units, and ‘end-of-life’ of vehicles and equipment, etc. I am informed by the Garda authorities that as of 1 November 2018, the latest date for which figures are available, there 289 vehicles allocated to traffic corps units nationwide, of which 90 have ANPR capacity.
The Modernisation and Renewal Programme 2016 – 2021 for An Garda Síochána has identified a number of areas for expansion of ANPR technology, and I understand that this is currently under consideration with the Attorney General.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that the capacity and capabilities of ANPR, including the expansion of the deployment of such systems within An Garda Síochána, are kept under regular review by Garda Management.
I trust this information is of assistance.
Question No. 458 answered with Question No. 445.
