Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 January 2014
579. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if an additional Garda squad car will be allocated to a Garda station (details supplied) in County Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3668/14]
View answerDecisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda vehicles are a matter for the Garda Commissioner in the light of his identified operational demands and the availability of resources. At Divisional level it is a matter for the Divisional Officer to determine how best to allocate vehicles so as to ensure the continued delivery of an effective policing service. In that context, I understand that a Garda vehicle is currently assigned to the station referred to by the Deputy.
I am, of course, conscious of the importance of the Garda fleet and, in that regard, the Deputy will be aware that I recently secured a further €9m for investment in the fleet. This investment resulted in the purchase of 305 new Garda vehicles towards the end of 2013, at a cost of €5 million. These were in addition to the 133 new Garda vehicles which had already been procured during the year. The remaining €4 million has been made available for the purchase and fit out of Garda vehicles in 2014.
I understand that the specific details in relation to the deployment of the new vehicles have yet to be finalised but the Deputy can be assured that they will be allocated as effectively as possible in line with operational circumstances, including the requirements of the area referred to by the Deputy.
