Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 February 2025
184. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice the number of airport-style walk through detectors, beach metal detectors used for searching lands and underwater metal detectors owned by An Garda Síochána as of 30 January 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3756/25]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for the management and administration of Garda business, including the allocation of resources, and all operational policing decisions. As Minister, I have no responsibility for these matters.
I am advised that the items of equipment referenced by the Deputy are not stored centrally. Many of these items are hired or leased for operations that may arise, or may have been purchased locally by sections/units. This would ultimately require that the information requested be sought from all sections across the organisation seeking a return to allow for the creation of a central register of items of equipment that may fall under the description of “metal detectors”.
I am further advised that considering the complexities outlined above, the Garda authorities are not in a position to provide the information as a significant and disproportionate amount of Garda resources would be required to fulfil the request.
