Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 December 2020
441. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice the number or percentage of Garda vehicles in each Garda division within the Dublin region that are aged over 12 years as of 4 December 2020, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43051/20]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. In addition, 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. As Minister, I have no role in these matters. I am assured 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 as at 9 December 2020 there were 663 vehicles assigned to the DMR of which 51 vehicles (7%) are over 12 years old.
For the Deputy's further information, the table below, as provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number the number of Garda vehicles in the DMR that are over 12 years old at 9 December 2020.
|
Dublin Metropolitan Region |
Total Fleet |
Vehicles Over 12 Years |
Cars |
Vans |
Motorcycles |
4 x 4s |
Others |
|
DMR East |
77 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
DMR North |
112 |
9 |
9 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
DMR North Central |
78 |
10 |
8 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
DMR South |
90 |
11 |
7 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
DMR South Central |
81 |
6 |
5 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
DMR Traffic |
71 |
5 |
3 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
DMR West |
102 |
6 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Harcourt Square |
52 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Total |
663 |
51 |
39 |
5 |
2 |
4 |
1 |
I can inform the Deputy that 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.
