Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Garda currently has 2,436 vehicles, which is roughly equivalent to the numbers it had in 2007 at the height of the Celtic tiger. An additional €5 million has been made available to it this year for the purchase of additional vehicles. Indeed, it may come to pass that if we can achieve the same effective financial approach to work in 2013 in my Department that we achieved in 2012, there will be some additional funding available for Garda vehicles when we come to the autumn.

There are substantial numbers of Garda vehicles but I am sure that the Deputy will appreciate that, under the Garda Síochána Acts, the operational decisions are made by the Garda Commissioner. When it comes to the allocation of members of the force to particular locations in the country and when it comes to the allocation of Garda cars, those decisions must be made on the basis of operational need. It is the Commissioner and those working under him who make those decisions.

They do so in a manner that is also flexible because as the operational needs change, the allocation of members of the force to particular locations may change and the provision of vehicles may change. It is not the job and cannot be the role of the Minister for Justice and Equality to determine in what part of the country each Garda vehicle that is acquired should be located. That is simply not feasible.

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