Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 13 Dec 2001

Vol. 546 No. 5

Written Answers. - Garda Equipment.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

245 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if adequate resources are available to the gardaí to facilitate the ongoing purchase and replacement of Garda cars and equipment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32443/01]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

The Deputy will be aware that provision is made in the Garda Vote each year for the purchase or delivery of vehicles for the Garda fleet and the maintenance of existing vehicles. This year alone, more than £6 million or 7.6 million will be spent on the purchase of new vehicles.

Since I took office there has been significant investment in the Garda fleet which has expanded in size to a current total of approximately 2,000 operational vehicles. The need to allocate additional vehicles or reallocate vehicles is constantly assessed by the Garda authorities on an ongoing basis. Factors such as population, crime and area are taken into consideration in the process of assessing vehicle allocation or the need for extra transport.

The Garda authorities objective is to replace each car when it has reached 100,000 miles. The average age of the Garda fleet is a little over two years. While there are cars in excess of this average age in the fleet, the older models are not used as patrol cars. They are utilised on special enquiries such as drugs investigations, missing persons investigations, murder investigations etc.

The Garda fleet is also being constantly upgraded in order to ensure that the most modern facilities are available to members of the Garda Síochána in the performance of their duties.

Garda cars are subject to the Road Traffic (National Car Test) Regulations and are also regularly serviced and maintained in accordance with the manufacturers instructions.

A Garda transport advisory group has been set up to review the optimum size and structure of the Garda fleet and overall fleet replacement policy. This group includes representatives from the Garda Síochána, the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Department of Finance. Any recommendations made by the group will receive careful and detailed consideration.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

246 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the extent to which PULSE is available to the gardaí; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32444/01]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

I refer the Deputy to my answer to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 151 and 967 of 3 October 2001 in which I dealt with the matters raised in this question.