Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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98. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of new vehicles supplied to Garda Síochána stations in the Waterford, Dungarvan and Tramore divisional districts of County Waterford in the past 24 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17286/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, decisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda vehicles are a matter for the Garda Commissioner in the light of her identified operational demands and the availability of resources and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter.

The tables supplied provide an overview in relation to the number of Garda vehicles assigned to the Waterford Division as of 17 June, which is the latest date for which such information is available, and the number of new vehicles assigned to that Division since 2014. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the allocation of Garda vehicles is monitored and reviewed on a continual basis and vehicles are allocated between districts as required by operational circumstances.

The Deputy will be aware that, in recent times, the Government has made considerable funding available to provide An Garda Síochána with additional high-powered vehicles, patrol cars (marked and unmarked) and motorcycles to ensure that Gardaí can be mobile, visible and responsive on the roads and in the community.

In summary, over €34 million has been invested in the fleet since 2012, with over 720 new vehicles coming on stream since the start of 2015, and a further €46 million is being provided under the Government's Capital Plan 2016 - 2021.

Waterford Division Fleet Strength, as of 17 June 2016

Vehicles allocated to the Waterford Division Fleet from 1 January 2014 to 17 June 2016