Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 October 2018
174. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of marked and unmarked Garda cars and vans in the Dublin region that have been scrapped to date in 2018 due to the fact that they exceeded 300,000 km mileage and-or exceeded ten years of age. [40925/18]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that there has been very significant investment in Garda resources across the State in recent years. The Government's Capital Plan 2016 – 2021 provides €46 million for investment in the Garda fleet, to ensure that An Garda Síochána has a modern, effective and fit-for-purpose fleet, in addition to the investment of almost €30 million in the period 2013 to 2015. In total in the period 2013 - 2017, almost €44 million has been invested in the fleet with some 2,000 vehicles coming on stream to ensure that Gardaí can be mobile, visible and responsive on the roads and in the community to prevent and tackle crime.
As the Deputy will appreciate, decisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda vehicles across the various Garda divisions are a matter for the Commissioner in light of his identified operational demands and the availability of resources. As Minister, I have no direct role in that matter.
I understand however that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure their optimum use. Responsibility for the efficient deployment of all official vehicles in each Division is assigned to the Divisional Officer, who may allocate vehicles between districts and stations as required by operational requirements.
I understand that An Garda Síochána operate a comprehensive service repair and maintenance programme to ensure that all vehicles in the fleet are operating to manufacturers' specifications. All vehicles are operated up to the manufacturers' durability limits (which range between 300,000 to 500,000km depending on vehicle type) or uneconomic repair irrespective of age.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the following table outlines the cars and vans which have been removed from the Garda fleet in the Dublin Metropolitan Region between January and September 2018.
|
Cars |
Vans |
||||
|
Marked |
Unmarked |
Total |
Marked |
Unmarked |
Total |
|
6 |
40 |
46 |
4 |
9 |
13 |
