Brian Stanley
Ceist:1165. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda stations in the Laois-Offaly division that had access to broadband in each year since 2009. [34960/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 24 July 2018
Ceisteanna (1165)
Freagraí scríofa
As the Deputy will appreciate decisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda resources including ICT resources are a matter for the Garda Commissioner in light of his identified operational demands and the availability of resources and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter.
I have asked the Garda Commissioner for the specific information and I will inform the Deputy when I receive it.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A
I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 1165 for answer on 24 July 2018, in which the Deputy requested the number of Garda stations in Laois and Offaly that had access to broadband in each year since 2009.
As the Deputy will recall, the information he requested could not be obtained in the time available, and I undertook to contact him again when the information was to hand.
The Deputy will appreciate that the Garda Commissioner is primarily responsible for the effective and efficient use of the resources available to An Garda Síochána. Further, decisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda equipment and resources, including ICT resources and the networking of Garda stations, are matters for the Garda Commissioner in light of availability of resources and his identified operational demands. As Minister, I have no direct role in the matter.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that broadband networks and services are used to connect stations to the Garda network for official purposes. All of the connections to the Garda stations are managed in Telecommuncations Division to ensure the speed of the network connection meets the requirements of the particular location.
I am further informed by the Garda authorities that there are 25 Garda stations in the Laois/Offaly Division. I understand that to provide details by year would be a voluminous task and would require a manual check of billing for a ten-year period.
However, the Garda authorities have confirmed that as of 2014 there were 11 Garda stations in the Laois/Offaly Division connected to the Garda network. Since that time, a further 11 stations have been connected to the Garda network. This leaves 3 Garda stations in the Laois/Offaly Division which are currently not networked.
I am informed by An Garda Síochána that any member attached to a currently unconnected station can access PULSE at their local district station. Members in non-networked locations can also contact the Garda Information Services Center (GISC) or an associated networked station if required.
I have been further advised by the Garda authorities that options for providing members attached to these remaining stations not yet networked with local access to Garda ICT services are actively being explored. This includes an assessment of the availability or otherwise of local broadband services and / or the provision of mobile technology.
I hope this information is of assistance.