Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 January 2021
429. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice the number of new marked and unmarked Garda vehicles that were allocated to Garda National Technical Bureau in 2019 and 2020; the number of vehicles withdrawn during the same period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2732/21]
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, 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.
An Garda Síochána has been allocated an unprecedented budget of €1.952 billion for 2021. This level of funding is enabling sustained, ongoing recruitment of Garda members and staff. As a result, there are now some 14,600 Garda members and over 3,000 Garda staff nationwide. Budget 2021 will allow for the recruitment of up to 620 new Gardaí and an extra 500 Garda staff.
There will also be continued investment in the Garda Fleet of €8 million in addition to the highest ever investment of approximately €15 million in the Garda Transport Fleet in 2020 – a proportion of which relates to the Garda Covid response.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the total number of vehicles in the Technical Bureau Fleet as on 15 January 2021 is as follows:
|
Cars |
Vans |
Mbikes |
4x4 |
Others |
Total |
|
10 |
6 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
17 |
I am further informed that the number of vehicles allocated and removed from the Garda National Technical Bureau in 2019 and 2020 is shown in the table below:
|
- |
Allocated |
Removed |
|
2020 |
2 |
0 |
|
2019 |
1 |
1 |
All of the vehicles that were allocated and removed were unmarked.
