Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On Garda resources, I acknowledge the tremendous work on the part of the Garda Síochána during the course of the emergency which, as the Deputy acknowledges, has been lauded by many of the non-governmental organisations and indeed by the population generally. As Minister for Justice and Equality, I have been pleased to preside over a situation where we have managed to invest record resources in An Garda Síochána to the tune of €1.8 billion. The Deputy specifically mentions Garda vehicles and reference was made to the hiring by the Garda Síochána of in excess of 200 vehicles. I wish to inform the House that most if not all of those will be purchased by the Garda and will be available alongside the 300 new vehicles purchased last year and the 200 new vehicles that will be purchased this year. That is in excess of 700 new vehicles over a period of a little more than a year, which is quite substantial. We will keep matters under review.

I acknowledge the work of Safe Ireland and all of the agencies. As I have said previously, the measures adopted by my Department and all of the agencies will continue to be the subject matter of development in the form of an inter-agency plan. I would be happy to report further to the Deputy as this develops.

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