Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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126. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he is satisfied with regard to the availability of the necessary resources to An Garda Síochána to facilitate ongoing upgrading of communications and transport equipment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5708/14]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda authorities are continually looking to employ new technologies to achieve their goals and to contribute to the services they provide. This is a policy which is designed to ensure that the Garda Síochána will be in a position to take advantage of proven technological developments to tackle crime and to meet the needs of an effective police force. In particular, the National Digital Radio Service is being operated nationwide by the Garda Síochána. The technology deployed by the Service is fully up to date and it delivers reliable, secure and very high quality communications. In that context it has significantly improved the safety of Garda personnel and the coordination of policing operations throughout the country. Furthermore the Garda authorities have indicated that they are using enhancements of the Service to avail of new facilities which are providing major benefits to the Force. In addition I am conscious of the importance of the Garda fleet and, in that regard, the Deputy will be aware that I recently secured a further €9m for investment in the fleet. This investment resulted in the purchase of 305 new Garda vehicles towards the end of 2013, at a cost of €5 million. These were in addition to the 133 new Garda vehicles which had already been procured during the year. The remaining €4 million has been made available for the purchase and fit out of Garda vehicles in 2014.

The most recent investment will bring to €18m the total amount spent on the Garda fleet for the three years 2012 to 2014. 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.