Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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264. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda vehicles based in each Garda station in County Donegal in each of the years 2002 to 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form. [37070/18]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that there has been very significant investment in Garda resources across the State in recent years. The Government's Capital Plan 2016 – 2021 provides €46 million for investment in the Garda fleet, to ensure that An Garda Síochána has a modern, effective and fit-for-purpose fleet. This is in addition to the investment of almost €30 million in the period 2013 to 2015. Indeed in the period 2013 to the end of 2017 almost €44 million has been invested in the fleet with some 2,000 vehicles coming on stream in that period to ensure that Gardaí can be mobile, visible and responsive on the roads and in the community to prevent and tackle crime.

As the Deputy will appreciate, decisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda vehicles across the various Garda divisions 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 that matter.

I understand that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that their optimum use. Responsibility for the efficient deployment of all official Garda vehicles in each Division is assigned to the Divisional Officer, who may allocate vehicles between districts and stations in line with operational requirements.

The following tables set out information requested by the Deputy in relation to Garda vehicles in the Donegal Division. I am advised by An Garda Síochána, that for operational reasons, this information is provided at Division and District level only. For the period 2004-2010, the information requested is available at Divisional level only. I understand that data for the fleet in Donegal Division in the period prior to 2004 is not available.

Garda Fleet per year 2004 - 2018 for Donegal Division

Garda fleet for the period 2004 - 2010 for Donegal Division