Vol. 434 No. 5
61 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Justice the number of bicycles available for use by gardaí in the Dublin Metropolitan District for 1993; if she will give comparative figures for each of the years 1983, 1973, 1963 and 1953; her views on whether gardaí on bicycles is a successful method of patrolling urban areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that, while bicycles are not currently supplied to members of the Force in the DMA, a number of gardaí do use their own bicycles, with the approval of the Garda authorities, for certain duties, such as delivery of summonses and warrants and community relations, and are paid a weekly allowance for doing so.
I will be guided by the professional advice of the Garda Commissioner as to the benefits of using bicycles for certain duties.
Comparative figures for the previous years sought by the Deputy are not available.
