To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide an update on the investment in Garda vehicles, the financial amount invested in 2013, 2014 and planned for 2015; the number of additional vehicles by Garda division; and if consideration has been given to acquiring and fitting out high specification vehicles which support policing as is the case in other jurisdictions – Seán Kyne
Reply – Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald:
The provision and allocation of Garda transport is a matter for the Garda Commissioner in the light of identified operational circumstances and the availability of resources.
In that context, I am advised by the Garda authorities that an additional 438 new Garda vehicles were purchased in 2013 at a cost of €10 million. The Deputy will be aware that I recently secured a further €10 million for investment in the Garda fleet of which €7 million has been made available in 2014. This funding brings the total investment for 2014 to €11 million.The remaining €3 million will be made available for the purchase and fit out of additional Garda vehicles in 2015 .
Decisions in relation to the deployment of Garda vehicles, at Regional and Divisional level, are a matter for the Garda Commissioner. I am advised that the deployment of all Garda resources is subject to ongoing review and analysis to ensure that the best use is made of available policing resources.
A breakdown of the additionalvehicles allocated by Garda Division in 2013 and 2014 is set out in the table below:
| DIVISION | 2013 | 2014 |
| CAVAN/MONAGHAN | 19 | 12 |
| CLARE | 13 | 10 |
| CORK CITY | 12 | 28 |
| CORK NORTH | 7 | 12 |
| CORK WEST | 11 | 9 |
| DMR EAST | 9 | 10 |
| DMR NORTH | 7 | 18 |
| DMR NORTH CENTRAL | 2 | 8 |
| DMR SOUTH | 6 | 9 |
| DMR SOUTH CENTRAL | 4 | 6 |
| DMR WEST | 8 | 18 |
| DONEGAL | 21 | 13 |
| GALWAY | 15 | 16 |
| KERRY | 9 | 6 |
| KILDARE | 10 | 12 |
| KILKENNY/CARLOW | 14 | 15 |
| LAOIS/OFFALY | 10 | 18 |
| LIMERICK | 12 | 19 |
| LOUTH | 9 | 7 |
| MAYO | 9 | 11 |
| MEATH | 11 | 14 |
| ROSCOMMON/LONGFORD | 11 | 12 |
| SLIGO/LEITRIM | 9 | 13 |
| TIPPERARY | 12 | 16 |
| WATERFORD | 9 | 14 |
| WESTMEATH | 9 | 9 |
| WEXFORD | 10 | 15 |
| WICKLOW | 9 | 11 |