Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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414. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 534 of 25 February 2014, the actual number of Garda cars that will be provided in 2014 for the Galway west division; the timeframe for the replacement of all cars in the Galway west division to bring the number of cars in active service up to the acceptable standard of 77, which is the number of cars in active service in 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11811/14]

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 the availability of resources.

As the Deputy will be aware, I recently secured a further €9m for investment in the Garda fleet which resulted in the purchase of 305 Garda vehicles towards the end of 2013, at a cost of €5 million. In this context I am advised that the new vehicles are currently being rolled out and that 38 of them will be deployed to the Western Region, which includes the Galway Division. More specific details in relation to the allocation of the vehicles are not currently available and the remaining €4 million has been provided for the purchase and fit out of additional Garda transport in 2014.

The most recent investment in Garda transport 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.