I propose to take Questions Nos. 154 to 156, inclusive, together.
The provision and allocation of Garda transport is a matter for the Garda Commissioner in the context of An Garda Síochána's identified operational requirements and the availability of resources. Responsibility for the efficient deployment of official Garda vehicles in each Division is assigned to the Divisional Officer, who may allocate vehicles between stations, as required by operational circumstances. The Deputy will appreciate that a degree of flexibility in allocating and re-allocating vehicles among stations, so as to best match the allocation of resources with policing priorities, is essential to the efficient management of the Garda fleet.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that the number of vehicles available and the number of new Garda vehicles allocated to the Donegal Division in the periods requested by the Deputy is laid out in the following tables.
DONEGAL FLEET 2008-2014
YEAR
|
CARS
|
VANS
|
MOTORCYCLES
|
4X4
|
OTHER
|
TOTAL
|
2008
|
51
|
10
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
66
|
2009
|
54
|
13
|
4
|
1
|
1
|
73
|
2010
|
58
|
11
|
5
|
1
|
2
|
77
|
2011
|
52
|
11
|
5
|
1
|
2
|
71
|
2012
|
42
|
12
|
3
|
1
|
2
|
60
|
2013
|
38
|
14
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
57
|
May 2014
|
40
|
14
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
59
|
DONEGAL NEW ALLOCATIONS 2008-2013
YEAR
|
CARS
|
VANS
|
MOTORCYCLES
|
4X4
|
OTHER
|
TOTAL
|
2008
|
13
|
3
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
17
|
2009
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
2010
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
2011
|
4
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
5
|
2012
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
2013
|
14
|
4
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
18
|
I am informed by the Garda authorities that it is not possible to provide the cost of providing new vehicles for the Donegal Division. However, the Deputy will be aware that a further €9m for investment in the fleet was recently secured. This investment resulted in the purchase of 305 new Garda vehicles towards the end of 2013, at a cost of €5 million. I am advised by the Garda authorities that these new vehicles are currently being allocated across Garda Divisions in accordance with operational requirements. In that regard, I am informed by the Garda authorities that 36 of these vehicles will be allocated to the Northern Region which includes the Donegal Division in 2014. The remaining €4 million has been made available for the purchase and fit out of Garda vehicles in 2014.