Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 May 2018
46. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the additional support in equipment and vehicles, in addition to extra Garda numbers, allocated to counties Longford and Westmeath in the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22540/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will appreciate, decisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda vehicles are a matter for the Garda Commissioner in the light of his identified operational demands and the availability of resources. As Minister, I have no direct role in the matter.
I can confirm, however, that this Government is fully committed to tackle all forms of criminality and this is evidenced by the increased allocation of resources to An Garda Síochána in recent times.
Some €1.65 billion has been allocated to the Garda Vote for 2018. This is an increase of approximately 2% over the allocation for 2017.
Some €342 million, including €217 million in additional funding under the Capital Plan, is being invested in Garda ICT infrastructure between 2016 and 2021 to enable An Garda Síochána to deploy the latest cutting edge technologies in delivering professional policing and security services for the community.
Further, the Government's Capital Plan 2016 – 2021 provides for significant resourcing of An Garda Síochána. In particular, €46 million was allocated for investment in the Garda Fleet to ensure that An Garda Síochána has a modern, effective and fit-for-purpose fleet and this is in addition to the investment of almost €30 million in the period 2013 to 2015. In total in the period 2013 to end of 2017, almost €44 million has been invested in the fleet with some 2,000 vehicles coming on stream in that period.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the allocation of Garda vehicles is monitored and reviewed on a continual basis and that vehicles are allocated between districts as required by operational circumstances including, for example, when vehicles are required to substitute for vehicles under repair.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that between 2015 and 2017, a total of 29 vehicles were allocated to Roscommon Longford Division, comprising 11 vehicles in 2015, 10 vehicles in 2016 and 8 vehicles allocated in 2017. The fleet in Roscommon/Longford Division currently comprises 53 vehicles. This represents an overall increase of 11 vehicles since December 2014.
For the same period, a total of 34 vehicles were allocated to the Westmeath Division, comprising 9 vehicles allocated in 2015, 20 vehicles in 2016 and 5 vehicles in 2017. The current strength of the fleet in Westmeath Division is 69 vehicles. This represents an overall increase of 20 vehicles since December 2014.
Regarding other equipment, I am informed that a great deal of new IT and office equipment has been allocated to the Roscommon/Longford and Westmeath Divisions in recent years.
Finally, I am informed by the Commissioner that the strength of the Roscommon/Longford and the Westmeath Divisions on 30 April 2018, the latest date for which information is currently available, was 311 and 312 respectively. There are also 7 Garda Reserves and 30 Garda civilian staff attached to the Roscommon/Longford Division and 12 Garda Reserves and 23 Garda civilian staff attached to the Westmeath Division. When appropriate, the work of local Gardaí is supported by a number of Garda national units such as the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Armed Support Units, the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau and the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau. I am further informed that, of the recruits who have attested as members of An Garda Síochána since re-opening of the Garda college and who are performing mainstream duties nationwide, 15 have been assigned to the Roscommon Longford Division and 32 have been assigned to Westmeath Division.
