Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 September 2012
10. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda vehicles allocated to each Garda station in the State; the number of requests for additional vehicles that have been made and the number of these requests fulfilled during each of the past four years. [39346/12]
View answerThe allocation of Garda resources, including transport, is a matter for the Garda Commissioner. In turn, at Garda divisional level, the allocation of Garda vehicles is a matter for the chief superintendent who may make and revise arrangements for the deployment of vehicles throughout the division in response to policing demands. This flexibility in allocating and re-allocating vehicles among stations, so as to best match the allocation of resources with policing priorities, is crucial to the efficient management of the Garda fleet, particularly at a time of budgetary constraints. As a consequence, it is not practical to provide a station by station list of permanent allocations of Garda vehicles.
On 31 August 2012, the Garda vehicle fleet consisted of 2,480 vehicles. Even with the significant budgetary constraints that apply, 159 new Garda vehicles were brought into service in 2011 and a further 42 new vehicles were brought into service in the early part of 2012. A new contract for the provision of Garda transport has recently been concluded, under which a number of new vehicles have been ordered. The provision of additional Garda vehicles will be pursued in the context of the Garda Síochána's operational requirements and in the light of available resources.
We return to the subject of the Garda Commissioner operating within his resources. It is a bit like a farmer who asks his neighbour to feed cattle but only gives enough feed for half of the cattle to be fed. One cannot blame the neighbour if some of the cattle starve. It is up to the Minister to provide resources because the buck stops with him.
I have read many reports. Every Deputy and Senator can provide a report from Garda Síochána members on the ground about the impact of vehicles. I am sure the Minister of State has heard stories about gardaí going to petrol stations and fuel cards being refused. There are also stories of gardaí not being able to respond to crime because of the limit on the fuel allowance and mileage. There is a major crisis and, at some point, the voices of the rank and file Garda members and public representatives across the country must be heard. The Government cannot continue to lay responsibility at the door of the Garda Commissioner. When will this stop happening? When will the Minister say that the budget has been provided, that it is not sufficient and that the Minister will try to do something about it?
I am not certain that, in the current circumstances, it will happen any time soon. We are living in straitened times. The Garda fleet stands at 2,480 cars, which represents an increase of 10% in vehicle numbers since 2007. The number of Garda cars that have been retired from the service is 174 but we must consider that 159 new vehicles will come on stream, meaning the decrease is not so great. As a result of the reduction in the number of Garda stations, there is an increased reliance on Garda vehicles. There has not been a significant reduction in the fleet.
This does not tally with the facts. On the one hand, the Government will close another 95 Garda stations but will increase mobility and will be smart with policing. At the same time, the Government is reducing the number of vehicles that can get out there and respond. The GRA has been quoted recently as saying that, since 2009, some 560 cars have been lost to front-line units. In Cork city, Garda and detective units, including the specialist drugs unit, have lost eight cars in recent weeks. A jeep was lost because management was forced to paint it white and use it as a patrol car for poorly resourced stations. I have a lot of respect for the Minister of State, who is a capable representative. She knows what is happening on the ground and she knows stories of gardaí leaving the force through early retirement and telephoning the local radio station to talk about the loss of morale and confidence. What are we going to do to turn it around?
It is the same as the rest of the country. It is becoming a cliché but we must all do more with less. There have been retirements from the Garda Síochána and early retirement presents a problem. Nevertheless, the figures speak for themselves. Detection figures are on the increase and the rural-based Operation Fiacla has been very successful. It is dependent on Garda vehicles. There are two sides to the coin.
The Minister of State has given a very detailed, comprehensive answer on this issue. If I understood her correctly, she stated there is a new contract and an extra fleet of cars coming on-stream. Will she elaborate a little on this?
The Minister of State's position that operational detail is a matter for chief superintendents and superintendents is reasonable. Accepting that, and in commending the superintendents, is she prepared to state in the House that towns and villages of average size will have a squad car? There should be a directive such that a town with a rural hinterland, as all small towns have, would at least have a car. I am thinking of specific towns in my constituency.
The Garda Síochána fleet consisted of 2,480 vehicles. Even with the significant budgetary constraints that apply, 159 new Garda vehicles were brought into service in 2011, and a further 42 were brought into service in the early part of 2012. I can confirm that a new contract for the provision of Garda transport has recently been concluded. Under that contract, a number of new vehicles have been ordered.
All Deputies like to protect their own areas but they could not possibly interfere with an operational matter in respect of which the superintendent or chief superintendent must make a decision on where resources are to be deployed. However, I very much take the Deputy's point.
