Nicky McFadden (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will outline on a county basis the amount of money invested by his Department to purchase Garda vehicles in 2012 and to date in 2013; the number of vehicles that were purchased; if he will outline the equipment and technology those vehicles are equipped with; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6456/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Decisions in relation to the provision of Garda vehicles are a matter, in the first instance, for the Garda Commissioner in the context of his identified operational requirements and in the light of available resources. The Garda Commissioner is the Accounting Officer for the Garda Vote and I am advised by the Garda authorities that details of the costs associated with the provision of new Garda vehicles are not available on a county by county basis.

As the Deputy may be aware, a total of 213 new vehicles were purchased in 2012 on foot of an investment of €4 million. I am further informed that these vehicles, which are currently being rolled out to Garda Divisions throughout the country, are equipped with a varying range of technology to take account of the relevant Garda operational requirements, including state of the art communications equipment. A further provision of €5 million has been made available for the purchase and fit-out of Garda transport in 2013. This represents a very considerable financial investment in Garda transport, particularly at a time when the level of funding available across the public sector is severely limited. It is a clear indication of my commitment to ensure that, to the greatest extent possible, An Garda Síochána are provided with sufficient resources to enable them to provide an effective and efficient policing service.