Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 July 2019
888. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the amount spent on new Garda vehicles; the number of vehicles purchased by Garda division in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33142/19]
View answerThe resources provided by Government to An Garda Síochána have reached unprecedented levels, with an allocation for 2019 of €1.76 billion. Very significant capital investment is also being made in An Garda Síochána, including a total of €46 million for investment in the Garda fleet between 2016 and 2021. This continuing investment is intended to ensure that An Garda Síochána can be mobile, visible and responsive on the roads and in the community to prevent and tackle crime.
The Deputy may also wish to be aware that a total of €10 million has been made available for the purchase and fit-out of Garda vehicles in 2019. I understand from the Garda authorities that this allocation will be used for purchase and fit-out of over 300 new vehicles for operational use this year.
As the Deputy will appreciate, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 as amended, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for managing and controlling the administration and business of An Garda Síochána. Further, the allocation of Garda resources is a matter for the Commissioner, in light of identified operational demands. This includes responsibility for the allocation of Garda vehicles among the various Garda divisions. As Minister, I have no role in these matters. I am assured, however, that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities to ensure their optimum use.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that a total of €9,993,000 was spent on new vehicles in 2016, a further €5,646,000 was spent in 2017, €4,667,000 was spent in 2018 and as of 30 June 2019, the latest date for which figures are available, €2,457,000 has been spent on new vehicles.
The table sets out the Garda vehicle allocations, as conveyed to me by the Garda authorities, for the dates requested by the Deputy. The Garda authorities indicate that these allocations may include vehicles which were purchased in the immediately preceding year, but in relation to which the technical fit-out process (and therefore allocation) was not completed until the relevant new year.
|
Divisions, HQ & National Units |
Vehicles allocated 2016 |
Vehicles allocated 2017 |
Vehicles allocated 2018 |
Vehicles allocated 2019 (to 17 July 2019) |
|
CAVAN-MONAGHAN |
12 |
5 |
9 |
1 |
|
CLARE |
7 |
6 |
8 |
0 |
|
CORK CITY |
26 |
16 |
6 |
5 |
|
CORK NORTH |
11 |
5 |
5 |
0 |
|
CORK WEST |
9 |
5 |
7 |
2 |
|
DMR EAST |
11 |
6 |
4 |
3 |
|
HQ / HARCOURT SQUARE / NATIONAL UNITS |
194 |
87 |
97 |
64 |
|
DMR NORTH |
25 |
10 |
7 |
16 |
|
DMR NORTH CENTRAL |
8 |
9 |
8 |
9 |
|
DMR SOUTH |
13 |
7 |
3 |
6 |
|
DMR SOUTH CENTRAL |
11 |
11 |
7 |
9 |
|
DMR TRAFFIC |
26 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
|
DMR WEST |
15 |
5 |
6 |
16 |
|
DONEGAL |
15 |
4 |
10 |
1 |
|
GALWAY |
26 |
10 |
15 |
4 |
|
KERRY |
10 |
4 |
8 |
1 |
|
KILDARE |
14 |
8 |
6 |
1 |
|
KILKENNY/CARLOW |
17 |
11 |
8 |
3 |
|
LAOIS-OFFALY |
8 |
7 |
6 |
1 |
|
LIMERICK |
14 |
6 |
14 |
1 |
|
LOUTH |
12 |
6 |
7 |
2 |
|
MAYO |
14 |
6 |
6 |
0 |
|
MEATH |
9 |
6 |
6 |
0 |
|
ROSCOMMON-LONGFORD |
10 |
8 |
6 |
1 |
|
SLIGO-LEITRIM |
14 |
2 |
5 |
1 |
|
TIPPERARY |
13 |
8 |
8 |
0 |
|
WATERFORD |
13 |
6 |
6 |
1 |
|
WESTMEATH |
20 |
5 |
9 |
6 |
|
WEXFORD |
11 |
5 |
6 |
0 |
|
WICKLOW |
9 |
10 |
7 |
0 |
|
Total |
597 |
286 |
301 |
156 |
