Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 233: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the extent to which the Garda motor fleet is equipped and sufficiently available to all stations throughout the country; the number of Garda cars on stand-by in the event of an emergency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5273/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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While I am responsible for providing the money for investment in the Garda fleet, it is for Garda management to decide upon the allocation of the vehicles.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that they are satisfied that there is an adequate number of patrol cars available in each Garda division to meet requirements. The current profile of the Garda fleet is as follows.

Significant investment has taken place in the Garda fleet over the last few years, which has resulted in an increase in the size of the fleet from 1,898 vehicles at the end of 1997 to 2,402 vehicles at present, an increase of 12.7%.

In 2004 over €14 million has been spent on the purchase and delivery of Garda vehicles. Figures for earlier years are as follows.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that transport resources are allocated by Garda management in a way that best meets operational requirements and the maintenance of law and order. Obviously, not every station is equipped with transport, but the objective of Garda management is to ensure that all have access to transport by strategic allocation or by sharing of those resources.

I am advised that the Garda Síochána does not operate with an official stand-by fleet but that delivery of new vehicles is phased in such a way that there should always be vehicles available to cater for emergencies. The objective of effective fleet management is to extract maximum usage with a minimum of downtime from the Garda fleet. There is always a certain amount of spare capacity built into allocations to key strategic locations. That effectively means that in the event of a national emergency the Garda Síochána will have sufficient vehicles available to meet that emergency.