Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is very welcome and certainly noticeable that the vast majority of the vehicles are less than four years old. I would highlight in particular the high-speed response units. I have predominantly seen traffic and armed response units but I am sure there are others. They are not just a morale booster for the gardaí themselves but also for the public. However, I notice that 31% of vehicles across the fleet are over six years; that is still a fair glut. The figure I have in front of me indicates that only 5% of vehicles are between four and six years old. While 64% of vehicles are less than four years old, it does appear that the majority of the remainder are over six years.

I will give the Minister an example. There is a squad car outside Malahide Garda station on most mornings when I pass that is 11 years old. They have brand new vehicles and other support vehicles but, while the vast majority are new or relatively new, the four to six year age bracket is at 5% while I have a figure of 573 vehicles over six years old. Those are squad cards, marked or unmarked. I would have a slight concern about the reliability of those vehicles. They tend to have higher mileage. I have had this discussion with the Minister before. It must be noted that there have been remarkable improvements in the age profile of the fleet. That is just a general point.