Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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205. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if the Divisional Officer in the Dublin North region has made a request to his Department for additional Garda vehicles to be supplied to the Garda R District in the Dublin region as part of the fleet of Garda vehicles that are due to come on stream this year. [23512/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Decisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda vehicles are a matter for the Garda Commissioner, in the light of his identified operational demands and in the light of available resources. I am advised by the Garda authorities that the requirements of the R District are fully taken into account for the purpose of the allocation of transport resources within the Dublin Metropolitan Region North Division. The Deputy will be aware that an additional €3 million was made available towards the end of last year which enabled the Force to procure a further 171 vehicles. This brought total investment in the Garda fleet in 2012 to €4 million and resulted in a total of 213 new vehicles being procured during the year. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the roll out of the most recently purchased patrol vehicles has been completed.

In addition to the investment provided in 2012, a specific allocation of €5 million has been provided for the purchase and fit-out of Garda transport in the current year. 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 deliver an effective and efficient policing service.