Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

I understand from the Garda authorities that, between 2009 and to date in 2011, 294 Garda cars were withdrawn from use and that in the same period 172 new cars were purchased. Of these, 165 were purchased in 2010 and seven so far this year.

Garda vehicle purchases are managed centrally and I understand that a divisional breakdown of these figures is not readily available. Clearly budgetary constraints will be a factor in the ongoing rate of car purchases but this should be seen against the background of a major renewal of the fleet in 2007 and 2008, when more than 1,300 vehicles were purchased, to the delight of Deputy Calleary.

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