Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am concerned not about the age of the vehicles but the mileage. Many of the cars in the Dundalk and Drogheda areas could be used on a 24-hour basis and it would not take long to get 300,000 km on the clock. The vehicle could be only two or three years old. The age of the vehicle does not bother me. The figure of 287 new vehicles seems high but I have a feeling that many more cars are coming off the road. That is my main concern. I appreciate the Minister's statement that he will revert to me with more details.

I welcome the increase in the budget for 2019 to 1.882 billion. That is a large amount of money for the Garda Síochána but it will be money well spent. The Minister referred to the larger Garda presence in Drogheda, County Louth, which, in fairness, seems to be working. I also welcome that 700 extra gardaí passed out from Templemore in 2019. It is important to see more gardaí on the beat, more patrol cars and more speed checks. A couple of years ago, the Minister stated that approximately 400 civilians would be employed by An Garda Síochána to take over clerical work. I note that part of the €1.882 billion is for additional Garda staff. Will they be civilians? The sooner we get these people trained and working, the sooner we will have more gardaí on the streets doing the job they are supposed to do. What is meant by the reference to additional Garda staff?