Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 524: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to purchase any extra Garda vehicles and patrol cars for certain rural areas that have lost local Garda stations this year; and if the Garda Commissioner has developed any local policing plans to increase the mobile patrolling of rural areas that have lost local Garda stations. [21818/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The provision and allocation of Garda resources, including transport, is a matter for the Garda Commissioner in the context of his identified operational requirements. I am advised by the Garda authorities that a procurement process for the supply of Garda vehicles is currently being finalised by the National Procurement Service with a view to putting in place a contract which will allow for the provision of additional Garda cars. This is a matter which will be pursued in the light of An Garda Síochána's identified policing requirements and the availability of financial resources.

In that overall context the Garda authorities have informed me that they are not in a position to indicate the stations to which additional vehicles will be made available during 2012. However, they have also informed me that the allocation of Garda cars throughout the country will continue to be monitored and reviewed on an on-going basis in response to operational priorities.