Colm Keaveney (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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549. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of vehicles assigned to the Garda station in Craughwell, County Galway during the month of March 2012, March 2013, and March 2014 respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18721/14]

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.

Responsibility for the efficient deployment of Garda vehicles in each Division is assigned to the Divisional Officer, who may allocate vehicles between stations, as required by operational circumstances. The Deputy will appreciate that a degree of flexibility in allocating and re-allocating vehicles among stations, so as to best match the allocation of resources with policing priorities, is essential to the efficient management of the Garda fleet. As a consequence it is not fully practicable to provide a breakdown of Garda vehicles by individual station.

Craughwell Garda Station was formerly part of the Gort District in the Galway Division. As part of An Garda Síochána's District amalgamation programme outlined in the 2013 Policing Plan, Gort District was amalgamated with the Loughrea District in November 2013.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that the allocation of vehicles in the Gort District for 31 March 2012 and 31 March 2013 and the Loughrea District for 31 March 2014 is as shown in the following table:

I am also informed by the Garda authorities that the current policing arrangements for the Loughrea District make the best use of available resources and that a full policing service is being delivered to the relevant communities.