Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 November 2006
199 Mr. Dennehy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if there is a maximum mileage limit on Garda patrol cars; if he is satisfied that any of the cars are not old, or unsafe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36534/06]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am informed by the Garda authorities that while there is no specific maximum mileage limit for Garda cars, the economic mileage for Garda cars is calculated to be 160,000 kilometres and this is the target figure set by the Garda Síochána.
I am further informed that Garda Fleet Management policy is to ensure, as far as possible, that official vehicles are maintained to a standard where there are no unsafe vehicles in use by the Force. While there are some older cars in the fleet, these are kept to a minimum as the safety of Garda personnel is of paramount importance. The average age of all Garda vehicles, including commercials and motorcycles, is 3.28 years and reducing. The average age of Garda patrol cars is 2.05 years and reducing.
Significant orders have recently been placed for a range of Garda vehicles which will greatly assist in lowering the age profile of the Garda fleet as well as enabling the Garda Síochána to meet their target mileage ceiling of 160,000 kilometres for Garda patrol cars.
200 Mr. Dennehy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the number of Garda traffic marked patrol cars in operation; if he is satisfied that all of these cars are sufficiently equipped with speed cameras; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36535/06]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have been informed by the Garda authorities who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength (all ranks) of An Garda Síochána increased to a record 12,762 on Friday, 8 September, 2006 following the attestation of 249 new members. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) as at 30 June, 1997 and represents an increase of 2,060 (or 19%) in the personnel strength of the Force during that period. The induction of 280 new Garda recruits to the Garda College on 6 November, 2006 has resulted in a combined strength, of both attested Gardaí and recruits in training, of 14,137. The Garda Budget now stands at €1.3 billion, a 13% increase on 2005 and an 85% increase since 1997 in real terms.
I have been further informed by the Garda authorities that within the range of vehicles available to the Garda Traffic Corps there are currently 62 marked Garda patrol cars. An Garda Síochána is satisfied that Garda Traffic Corps vehicles are sufficiently equipped to carry out speed enforcement.
Members of the Garda Síochána who are not members of the Traffic Corps have the responsibility, inter alia, to deal with traffic duties when breaches of road traffic law occur. Marked and unmarked patrol vehicles driven by these members are therefore also available for road traffic law enforcement.
It is the responsibility of Garda management to allocate personnel to and within Divisions on a priority basis in accordance with the requirements of different areas. These personnel allocations are determined by a number of factors including demographics, crime trends, administrative functions and other operational policing needs. Garda management state that such allocations are continually monitored and reviewed along with overall policing arrangements and operational strategy. This ensures that optimum use is made of Garda resources, and that the best possible service is provided to the public.
I should add that the current recruitment drive to increase the attested strength of the Garda Síochána to 14,000 members, in line with the commitment in the Agreed Programme for Government, is fully on target. The Garda Commissioner will now be drawing up plans on how best to distribute and manage these additional resources, and in this context the needs of Garda Stations will be given the fullest consideration.
