Sorca Clarke
Ceist:639. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice the number of drones owned by An Garda Síochána and the number currently in use as of 3 May 2022, [23110/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 10 May 2022
Ceisteanna (639)
Freagraí scríofa
As the Deputy may be aware, legislation currently limits the operational use of drones by An Garda Síochána. However, the Garda Síochána (Digital Recording) Bill will provide a legal basis for the wider operational deployment of drones.
The Bill will provide a power for a Garda Member or Garda Staff acting in the course of his or her duties to operate, or cause to be operated, a recording device that is remotely controlled and affixed to or part of an unmanned aerial vehicle. The recording shall be for the purposes of:
(a) Preventing, investigating, detecting or prosecuting criminal offences;
(b) Safeguarding against, and preventing, threats to public security, including securing public safety and public order; or for
(c) protecting the security of the State.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that An Garda Síochána is currently conducting ongoing trials with a number of unmanned aircraft systems (drones) and there is an internal working group tasked with examining the wider potential and scope to use drones to assist in various policing operations.
I am further advised by the Garda authorities that specific task-capable drone models have been identified and 9 drones have been procured for evaluation, training and possible future operational use in the Garda Air Support Unit (GASU). A further 2 drones have been procured by the Garda National Technical Bureau for training purposes.