Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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180. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will discuss with the Garda Commissioner the need to assign additional gardaí and new vehicles to Tallaght Garda station, Dublin 24, from the extra resources she will have at her disposal; her views on the need to deal effectively with crime in Tallaght; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5218/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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One of the primary functions of the Garda Commissioner under the Garda Síochána Acts, is to direct and control An Garda Síochána. The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel among the Garda Regions, Divisions, and Districts. Garda management keep this distribution under continuing review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of these resources.

I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength of Tallaght Garda Station on 31 December 2014, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was 170. There are also 12 Garda Reserves and 12 Civilians attached to Tallaght Garda Station.

As the Deputy will be aware, 100 new recruits entered training at the Garda College in Templemore in September 2014, the first intake of Garda recruits since 2009. This was followed by an intake of a further 100 new recruits in December. A further intake of 100 is due to enter training in the next few days. This will bring to 300 the number of recruits in the Garda College since last September and is a measure of this Government's commitment to the Garda Síochána. The first intake of recruits will attest as members of An Garda Síochána in May of this year and will be assigned to Garda Stations by the Garda Commissioner. The Garda Commissioner, will of course, continue to keep the needs of Tallaght Garda Station under review within the overall context of the needs of Garda Divisions throughout the country.

In relation to vehicles the provision and allocation of Garda transport is a matter for the Garda Commissioner in the light of her identified operational requirements 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 be aware that I recently secured an additional €10 million for investment in the Garda fleet, €7 million of which was made available in 2014, with the remaining €3 million being provided in 2015. The additional investment of €7 million enabled An Garda Síochána to purchase 370 new vehicles towards the end of last year. These vehicles will be allocated to Garda Divisions in line with the Garda Commissioner's operational requirements. I am advised by the Garda authorities that the needs of the area referred to by the Deputy will be fully considered when these vehicles are being allocated.