Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 January 2026
758. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the current response times for emergency and non-emergency calls in the Tullamore District, County Offaly, in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4333/26]
View answerI am informed by Garda authorities that data from the GardaSAFE computer aided dispatch system is not yet supported by An Garda Síochána’s Analysis Service and therefore the information requested cannot be supplied at this time.
It is anticipated that initial reporting capabilities (for example on the counts of calls received) in respect of GardaSAFE data will commence in Q1 2026. There will be incremental, additional reporting capabilities in each quarter over the course of 2026.
I am advised that the GardaSAFE system was rolled out incrementally across the organisation in 2023. I understand that while there are some reports available, these are focused on live operational aspects for the Control Rooms to monitor call volumes, etc.
I am informed that the Garda Regional Control Centres answer every 999/112 call that Emergency Call Answering Service (ECAS) needs to connect. If the caller hangs up before the call is answered, the ECAS operator will stay on the call and connect the call giving all relevant information. In the rare event that a technical issue arises in one of the Regional Control Rooms, ECAS will stay on the call and route the call to a Garda call taker at an alternative location.
The Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for all operational policing matters, including responses by An Garda Síochána to emergency calls. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.
