Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 September 2020
239. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the number of unmarked Garda cars that came into the fleet in 2019 and to date in 2020; and the number of unmarked Garda cars withdrawn from the fleet during the same period. [22761/20]
View answerIn 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 August 2020, there were 3,015 vehicles attached to the Garda Fleet including 2,261 cars. 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 unmarked cars allocated to and removed from the fleet in 2019 and 2020.
|
2019 |
Total |
|
Allocations |
180 |
|
Removals |
130 |
|
2020 (to 31 August 2020) |
Total |
|
Allocations |
150 |
|
Removals |
52 |
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.
Finally and for clarity, it may be noted that these figures do not include the additional 210 vehicles which have been hired by An Garda Síochána this year, to provide additional capacity during the Covid-19 pandemic.
