Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 June 2016
131. Deputy James Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of new vehicles supplied to Garda Síochána stations in the Naas divisional district in the past 24 months; if and when she will supply public order unit vehicles to the Leixlip district in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15958/16]
View answerAs the Deputy will appreciate decisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda vehicles are a matter for the Garda Commissioner in the light of her identified operational demands and the availability of resources and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter.
Since 2012, some €34 million has been invested in the Garda fleet, with over 720 new vehicles coming on stream since the start of 2015. This significant investment provides the Gardaí with additional high-powered vehicles, marked and unmarked patrol cars, and motorcycles for high-visibility road policing. Investment in a modern, effective and fit-for-purpose Garda fleet will continue under the Government’s Capital Plan 2016-2021 which provides €46 million for new Garda vehicles, ensuring that Gardaí can be mobile, visible and responsive on the roads and in the community to prevent and tackle crime.
I am advised by the Garda Authorities that the number of new vehicles assigned to the Kildare Division over the past 24 months is set out as follows:
VEHICLES ALLOCATED TO THE KILDARE DIVISION FROM 1/1/2014 to 10-6-2016
|
CARS |
CARS |
VANS |
MOTORCYCLES |
4 x 4 |
Total |
|
|
MARKED |
UNMARKED |
|||||
|
KILDARE DISTRICT |
9 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
16 |
|
LEIXLIP DISTRICT |
2 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
|
NAAS DISTRICT |
5 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
9 |
|
TOTAL |
16 |
9 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
30 |
I am also informed by the Garda Authorities that the allocation of Garda vehicles is monitored and reviewed on a continual basis and vehicles are allocated between districts as required by operational circumstances. In that context, I am advised that a purchase order has been placed for Public Order Vans for the Eastern Region in which the areas the Deputy referred to are located.
