670. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the actions his Department is taking to establish a standardised and comprehensive data-recording framework for drone-related contraband incidents across the prison estate, including the development of specific incident classifications or codes for use by both the Irish Prison Service and An Garda Síochána, so that investigations, arrests, charges and convictions linked to drone incursions can be compiled and reported; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69793/25]

671. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will direct the Irish Prison Service to publish an annual statistical report on drone incursions into prisons, including institution-level incident numbers, contraband recovered, and associated outcomes notified to his Department by An Garda Síochána, in a manner that does not compromise operational security; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69794/25]

Jim O'Callaghan, Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: I propose to take Questions Nos. 670 and 671 together.

Preventing the access of contraband, including drugs, into prisons is a high priority for the Irish Prison Service, and it continues to examine technologies that might assist in making our prisons more secure, including anti-drone technologies. I am advised that the Irish Prison Service addresses drone incursions across the prison estate by deploying appropriate dynamic security measures responding to the nature and level of the threat in each instance.

The controlled management of security-related information is a core component of maintaining a safe and secure custodial environment for staff, prisoners, and the wider community. There are no current plans to publish this information on an ongoing basis due to the risk of compromising the integrity, security, or safety of the prison estate.

The Irish Prison Service, together with An Garda Síochána, have completed several very successful collaborative operations in the past year delivering significant results, including multiple arrests and prosecutions linked to attempts to introduce drugs and other contraband into prisons by drone or throw-over. This intelligence-led, multi-agency co-operation is effectively disrupting and detecting attempted delivery of contraband into prisons and improving communication pathways regarding supply, availability, typology and impact of illicit substances in prisons.

In May of this year, the Irish Prison Service and An Garda Síochána signed a Memorandum of Understanding to formalise a framework for interagency cooperation. The Memorandum of Understanding was developed to enable the two organisations to work in partnership to prioritise cooperation in tackling organised crime, drug dealing and contraband smuggling.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána under Section 33 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024. This includes all operational policing matters. Under Section 34(1) of the Policing Security and Community Safety Act 2024, the Garda Commissioner is independent in the performance of his functions.