Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 December 2016
129. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the full cost of fitting an automatic number plate recognition system to all Garda vehicles; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39969/16]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, decisions in relation to the provision and allocation of resources is a matter for the Garda Commissioner and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that the current cost of purchasing and installing an automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) system is some €6,000 per vehicle. Given that the Garda fleet comprises some 2,800 vehicles, the cost of fitting all Garda vehicles with ANPR would amount to some €16.8 million. The Deputy will appreciate that Garda vehicles are used for a range of purposes and not all Garda vehicles would require ANPR.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Síochána Modernisation and Renewal Programme 2016-2021 envisages the expansion of the number of ANPR units and all units being 3G-enabled to provide Gardaí with real-time information. It also envisages that An Garda Síochána will examine the introduction of fixed ANPR sites at strategic locations across the road network.
