Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 October 2017
233. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has provided funding for the installation of a state-of-the-art satellite navigation system in each Garda vehicle; if all Garda vehicles are now linked to this system providing key information for Garda management; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43908/17]
View answerAs the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the allocation of Garda resources in the State and, as Minister, I have no role in relation to the matter.
I am, however, informed by the Garda authorities that vehicles attached to the Garda fleet are installed with secure TETRA technology, which is the current state of the art technology for public safety communications across Europe and which enables geographical positioning using satellite technology. The technology ensures that Garda vehicles and personnel are contactable throughout the State and links to the Automatic Vehicle and Personnel Location System (AVPLS) which displays the location of vehicles and personnel in Garda control rooms.
The Deputy will be aware that there has been unprecedented investment in the Garda fleet in recent years with some €46 million being invested over the lifetime of the Government's Capital Plan 2016 - 2021 to ensure that An Garda Síochána has a modern, effective and fit for purpose fleet. This is in addition to the investment of almost €30 million in the period 2013 to 2015.
In the period 2013 to end of 2017, almost €44 million will have been invested in the Garda fleet with some 2,000 vehicles coming on stream.
