Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 November 2018
316. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number and percentage of Garda vehicles attached to the roads policing unit now fitted with automatic number plate recognition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49399/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere has been unprecedented investment in An Garda Síochána in recent years, in support of the Government’s commitment to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement and provide reassurance to citizens and deter crime. In total, €342 million is being invested in Garda ICT infrastructure between 2016 and 2021, to enable An Garda Síochána to deploy the latest cutting edge technologies and to deliver on reform.
As the Deputy will appreciate, decisions in relation to the provision, allocation and management of Garda equipment and resources, including Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) equipment, are matters for the Garda Commissioner. As Minister, I have no direct role in that regard.
I am informed that ANPR was introduced into An Garda Síochána in 2008 and is used on a daily basis to assist in the prevention and detection of crime on our roads network. The Garda authorities advise that the number of Garda vehicles fitted with ANPR equipment varies on a daily basis, due to operational requirements, including repair and maintenance of equipment and ‘end-of-life’ of vehicles and equipment, the up-dating of software and the decommissioning of damaged units.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that, as of 1 November 2018, there are 289 vehicles attached to Roads Policing Units nationwide. 76 of these currently have ANPR capacity, which amounts to just over 26% of the vehicles allocated to Roads Policing Units.
I am further informed 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 senior Garda management.
More generally, I can confirm that the Garda Mobility Strategy, which aims to provide frontline members with greater connectivity to back-office systems harnessing the power of mobile technology, forms part of the Modernisation and Renewal Programme 2016-2021. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the pilot programme in operation in Limerick Garda Division has been continuously evaluated, with very positive feedback to date and that further expansion of the project is planned for 2019.
The Deputy may be interested to note that one key application developed for the Mobility pilot is a Traffic App, which allows users to search for vehicle information by entering a vehicle registration number into the mobile phone. The app gathers information recorded on PULSE in respect of the vehicle, including tax status, ownership information and vehicle warnings. Updates to the App already rolled out include a Driver-Licence check facility. Work has also commenced on developing the capacity to create a Fixed Charge Notice via an App.
I am informed that it is expected that mobile devices will enable Garda members to be more efficient and effective by having mobile access to relevant core policing applications, a wide-range of up-to-date information and the ability to input and update information in real time.
