An Garda Síochána

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 October 2023

Tuesday, 3 October 2023

Questions (439, 441)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

439. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of Garda cars and vans attached to each district within the DMR region as of 26 September 2023, in tabular form. [42387/23]

Catherine Murphy

Question:

441. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of new marked Garda vans that have come into the fleet to date in 2023; the number of vans withdrawn from the fleet to date in 2023; and if there are likely to be additional new marked Garda vans that will come into the fleet before end of 2023. [42389/23]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

I propose to take Questions Nos. 439 and 441 together.

The Government is committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to deliver a modern, fit-for-purpose, policing service. Budget 2023 provides funding of over €2 billion for An Garda Síochána, of which €10m has been allocated for investment in the Garda fleet.

As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including the purchase, allocation, and effective and efficient use of Garda vehicles. As Minister, I have no role in such 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 advised by the Garda authorities that at the end of September 2023, the latest date for when figures were available, there were 3,429 vehicles attached to the Garda fleet. This represents an increase of over 10% since the end of December 2020.

The tables below, which were provided to me by the Garda authorities, set out the number of vehicles assigned to the Divisions within the DMR by district at the 30 September 2023.

DMR EAST	Cars	Vans	Motorcycles	4 x 4	*Others	Total
BLACKROCK-W	34	4	0	1	0	39
DUNLAOGHAIRE-F	28	11	0	0	1	40
Total	62	15	0	1	1	79

BALBRIGGAN-Y	15	1	0	0	0	16
BALLYMUN	34	8	0	1	1	44
COOLOCK-R	24	3	0	0	0	27
RAHENY-J	25	2	0	0	0	27
TOTAL	98	14	0	1	1	114

DMR NORTH CENTRAL	Cars	Vans	Motorcycles	4 x 4	*Others	Total
BRIDEWELL	11	2	0	0	0	13
FITZGIBBON STREET	26	5	0	2	0	33
STORE STREET	32	7	0	1	1	41
Total	69	14	0	3	1	87

DMR SOUTH	Cars	Vans	Motorcycles	4 x 4	*Others	Total
CRUMLIN-G	19	8	0	0	0	27
TALLAGHT-M	35	5	0	1	1	42
TERENURE-P	18	2	0	1	0	21
Total	72	15	0	2	1	90

DMR SOUTH CENTRAL	Cars	Vans	Motorcycles	4 x 4	*Others	Total
DONNYBROOK-E	17	7	0	0	0	24
KEVIN STREET-A	31	5	0	0	1	37
PEARSE STREET-B	18	8	0	0	0	26
Total	66	20	0	0	1	87

DMR WEST	Cars	Vans	Motorcycles	4 x 4	*Others	Total
BLANCHARDSTOWN-K	44	5	0	0	1	50
CLONDALKIN-L	27	6	0	0	0	33
LUCAN-Q	25	3	0	0	5	33
Total	96	14	0	0	6	116

DMR TRAFFIC	Cars	Vans	Motorcycles	4 x 4	*Others	Total
Total	16	3	42	2	0	63

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

I am further advised that 19 vans were assigned and 8 vans were removed from the Garda fleet to date in 2023.

I am also advised that additional marked Garda vans will come into the fleet before the end of 2023. The Deputy may wish to be aware that the purchase and allocation of vehicles by An Garda Síochána is made on the basis of identified operational demands, the availability of resources and is reviewed on a continual basis.

The Deputy may also wish to be aware that An Garda Síochána publish information on Garda fleet, including a Divisional/District monthly breakdown, on their website at:

www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/finance-services/finance-fleet-management.html