Thursday, 21 Feb 2013

Written Answers Nos. 173-180

Garda Resources

Questions (173)

Andrew Doyle

Question:

173. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the resources available to Garda Stations (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9350/13]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

As the Deputy will be aware the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel and transport, throughout An Garda Síochána and I have no direct function in the matter.

I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength of Greystones, Newtownmountkennedy, Wicklow and Arklow Garda Stations on 31 December 2012, the latest date for which all figures are readily available, was as set out in the table hereunder:

Station	Strength	Reserves	Civilians
Greystones	33	3	1
Newtownmountkennedy	4	0	0
Wicklow	48	7	5
Arklow	34	8	2

Responsibility for the efficient deployment of official Garda vehicles in each Division is assigned to the Divisional Officer, who may allocate vehicles between stations, as required by operational circumstances. The Deputy will appreciate that a degree of flexibility in allocating and re-allocating vehicles among stations, so as to best match the allocation of resources with policing priorities, is essential to the efficient management of the Garda fleet. As a consequence it is not practicable to provide a breakdown of Garda vehicles by individual station. However, I am informed that there are currently 47 vehicles allocated to the Wicklow Division. A breakdown of vehicles by District is set out in the following table:

District	Vehicles
Baltinglass	11
Bray	20
Wicklow	16
Total	47

As the Deputy will be aware, I made an additional €3 million available to An Garda Síochána towards the end of last year which enabled the Force to procure a total of 213 vehicles in 2012. In addition, a further allocation of €5 million has been provided for the purchase and fit-out of Garda transport in 2013. This represents a very considerable financial investment in Garda transport, particularly at a time when the level of funding available across the public sector is severely limited. It is a clear indication of my commitment to ensure that, to the greatest extent possible, An Garda Síochána are provided with sufficient resources to enable them to provide an effective and efficient policing service.

Garda Deployment

Questions (174)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

174. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide details of Garda plans to provide cover to residents of the Beara Peninsula; if he will assure people of acceptable response times on a 24/7 basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9361/13]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

The Deputy will be aware that the Commissioner is responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel and transport, throughout the organisation and I have no direct function in the matter. This allocation of resources is constantly monitored in the context of demographics, crime trends, policing needs and other operational strategies in place on a District, Divisional and Regional level to ensure optimum use is made of Garda resources and the best possible Garda service is provided to the public.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Beara Peninsula is covered by a number of Garda Stations in two separate Garda Divisions - Cork West and Kerry. The personnel strength of each of the Garda stations that cover the Beara Peninsula is as set out in the table attached. I am further informed that Divisional Units for the Cork West Division (Traffic, Drugs and Crime) are also deployed in the Beara Peninsula on an ongoing basis and are used in targeted, intelligence led operations in the area. The procedure for the Garda response to emergency calls which will continue as it is at present i.e. members of the public should call 999 or 112. Other Crimes should be reported directly to the nearest Garda Station.

Station	31/12/2012	Reserves	Civilians
Bantry (Cork West)	34	3	3
Castletownbere (Cork West)	5	0	0
Kealkill (Cork West)	1	0	0
Glengarriff (Cork West)	1	0	0
Killarney (Kerry)	53	8	7
Kenmare (Kerry)	9	0	0

Garda Transport Data

Questions (175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

175. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the total expenditure on the Garda motor fleet in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9362/13]

Brendan Griffin

Question:

176. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the total number of new vehicles purchased for the Garda motor fleet in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9363/13]

Brendan Griffin

Question:

177. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the total expenditure budgeted for new Garda vehicles in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9364/13]

Brendan Griffin

Question:

178. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the total number of new vehicles that will be added to the Garda motor fleet in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9365/13]

Brendan Griffin

Question:

179. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the total number of old vehicles that will be withdrawn from the Garda motor fleet in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9366/13]

Brendan Griffin

Question:

180. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when he anticipates that the new Garda vehicles will be added to the Garda motor fleet in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9367/13]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I propose to take Questions Nos. 175 to 180, inclusive, together.

In the time available it has not been possible for the Garda authorities to supply the information requested by the Deputy. I will be in contact with the Deputy when the information is to hand.