Garda Transport Provision

Wednesday, 3 June 2020

Questions (365)

Jim O'Callaghan

Question:

365. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of new Garda vehicles that were added to the roads policing unit in 2019 and to date in 2020; and the number of vehicles withdrawn during the same period. [9030/20]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

The Deputy will be aware that 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.

I have requested information from An Garda Síochána on the matter raised and will write directly to the Deputy when it is received.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51

I refer to your Parliamentary Question No. 365 which was for answer on the 3 June 2020 where you asked my predecessor, Minister Charlie Flanagan, TD. the number of new Garda vehicles that were added to the roads policing unit in 2019 and to date in 2020; and the number of vehicles withdrawn during the same period.

As the Deputy may recall, the information you requested could not be obtained in the time available and Minister Flanagan undertook to contact you again when the information was to hand.

The requested information has now been responded to by An Garda Síochána and accordingly, please note the following.

In accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005, 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.

Significant capital investment is being made in An Garda Síochána, including a total of €46 million specifically for the Garda fleet between 2016 and 2021. This continuing investment is intended to ensure that An Garda Síochána has a modern, effective and fit-for-purpose fleet and that Gardaí can be mobile, visible and responsive on the roads and in the community to prevent and tackle crime.

Of this investment, a total of €9 million was made available for purchase and fit-out of additional Garda vehicles in 2020. I am also informed that in order to protect the ongoing availability of vehicles and in anticipation of the impact of public health restrictions on motor factory or fit-out workplaces, 94 additional vehicles were purchased by the Garda authorities in March 2020 at a cost of €2.4m and fit-out costs of €600,000. The allocation of these and all other vehicles in the fleet is entirely a matter for the Commissioner and his management team.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that as of 31 May 2020, there were 2,928 vehicles attached to the Garda Fleet. I understand that this compares to a total of 2,794 vehicles as of end December 2019.

The following table, furnished to me by the Garda authorities, set out the number of vehicles allocated to and removed from roads policing duty (including the DMR Traffic Division) in in 2019 and 2020.

2019	Cars	Vans	Motorbikes	4X4	*Others	Total
Allocations	23	0	0	0	0	23
Removals	24	0	8	3	0	35
Reallocated to other duty	7	0	0	0	0	7

1 Jan to 4 June 2020	Cars	Vans	Motorbikes	4X4	*Others	Totals
Allocations	4	0	0	0	0	4
Removals	9	0	3	0	0	12
Reallocated to other duty	1	0	0	0	0	1

*The category 'others' refers to MPV, SUV, Minibus or Prisoner Conveyance Vehicles

Finally and as is standard, the Garda authorities indicate that allocations to the fleet may include vehicles which were purchased in the previous year, but in relation to which the technical fit-out process was not completed until the following year.

I trust this information is of assistance.