Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 16: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason his Department did not seek a bulk discount when purchasing 700 Garda patrol cars, as outlined in the Comptroller and Auditor General's recent report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32788/08]

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 35: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the criticism made in the annual report of the Comptroller and Auditor General regarding the fact that more than 200 Garda vehicles, purchased in 2006 at a cost of €3.8 million, were not put into service until 2008; if changes are planned to purchasing or commissioning procedures to prevent such a waste of public money and to ensure that vehicles are promptly brought into use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32871/08]

Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 67: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will make a statement on the wastage of Garda resources, in terms of the vehicle fleet, identified by the Comptroller and Auditor General in his 2007 annual report; and if he will take steps with the Garda Commissioner to ensure a more cost effective use of resources in the future. [32494/08]

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 92: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason it took more than a year for Garda cars to be fitted out, as outlined in the Comptroller and Auditor General's recent report; the steps that have been taken to speed up this process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32790/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 16, 35, 67 and 92 together.

The provision of an additional €17m to the Garda transport subhead as part of the supplementary estimates process for 2006 enabled a significant additional purchase of Garda vehicles. As is standard practice, the supplementary estimate was submitted to and approved by the Oireachtas towards the end of the financial year when the likely outturn figures were known. Government cash accounting rules required the acquisition of the vehicles to be made towards the end of 2006.

The Garda Commissioner as Accounting Officer for the Garda Vote, has given a comprehensive response to the issues raised in the annual report of the Comptroller and Auditor General. He points out that the procurement, which utilised contracts in place by the Government Supplies Agency, represented the best value that could be achieved by the State in the circumstances that existed at that time. The main vehicle supplier has indicated to the Garda authorities that a bulk discount of the type suggested would not have been forthcoming in any event as they were already applying high volume discounts and delivering their lowest possible vehicle price under the contract. Garda Authorities also point out that the warranty period on the cars in question did not commence until they were actually put into service and that the date of purchase had no bearing on this. However, the Garda authorities acknowledge that with the benefit of hindsight the contract should have included a clause that would enable a sliding scale of discounts linked to volumes and will engage with the Government Supplies Agency to ensure such a clause is provided in future contracts.

The vast majority of the vehicles purchased were patrol cars to ensure high visibility policing. They required to be painted with the Garda livery and fitted with a range of equipment. The Garda authorities acknowledge that the purchase of such a large volume of vehicles placed a strain on the systems that were in place to fit-out the fleet at that time and that this experience would inform future approaches to vehicle purchases. Notwithstanding, over 630 of the vehicles were processed and issued by the end of 2007 and by the end of May 2008 the average age of fleet has decreased to 1.95 years compared to 3.28 years in September, 2006. While some opportunity costs were incurred in the manner in which this procurement took place the Garda authorities assure me that they expect the economic benefits of the extra €17m to accrue beyond 2011.

In order to ensure that the most cost effective and efficient operation of the fleet the Garda authorities have recently commissioned a fleet optimisation study which will examine all aspects of fleet purchase and management including the types of vehicles to be purchased, the deployment of these vehicles, fuel type, lifespan etc. The Garda authorities inform me that the study is expected to be completed by the end of this year.