Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 March 2004
400 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of vehicles in the service of the Irish Prison Service; their type, age and value; the estimated cost of replacing them; and the timetabled plan to replace the older vehicles, in particular the prison escort vans. [7902/04]
View answerThere is a wide range of vehicles in use in the various prisons, places of detention and related bodies within the Irish Prison Service. These include plant and machinery used for various duties within the prison system.
The following is a breakdown of the different categories of vehicle currently in the Irish prison system: cellular vans — two; minibuses — 44; cars + MPV — 39; vans — 36; refrigerated vans — seven; forklifts — 12; hoists — 15; lawn maintenance — 12; trucks — three; pick-up trucks — five; builders' dumpers — ten; tractors — ten; total — 195 vehicles. The 195 vehicles that are in service at present are of various ages and are generally replaced after ten years of service or earlier if the mileage is considered excessive.
The cost of replacing vehicles changes from year to year depending on the type of vehicle and the number of vehicles that reach the ten year limit in each given year. New vehicles are purchased through a Government supplies agency tender process. Accordingly, it is not possible to estimate the replacement cost of the fleet of vehicles in use by the Prison Service. I have been informed by the Irish Prison Service that the information about the age of the vehicles, requested by the Deputy, can be obtained in most cases but will take further time to compile. I will write to the Deputy as soon as the information becomes available.
