The provision and allocation of Garda resources, including mountain bikes, is a matter for the Garda Commissioner in the context of his identified operational requirements.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that in total there are 24 mountain bikes attached to the Garda J and R Districts. The latest allocations of mountain bikes to the J and R Districts were in 2008 and 2006, respectively.
I am further advised that the Garda authorities are satisfied that the current allocations of mountain bikes are sufficient to meet existing policing requirements and, accordingly, they have no plans to increase the number of bikes in service within the Districts referred to by the Deputy.