Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

86. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she is aware of a widespread belief among members of An Garda Síochána that their uniform is unfit for purpose; if she plans to address this; if she or An Garda Síochána management have had any discussions with Garda Síochána representative groups on the matter; if the representative groups have made proposals that would provide a better uniform and make savings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21431/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Deputy will appreciate that the provision and allocation of resources for An Garda Síochána is a matter for the Garda Commissioner and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that a Uniform Committee, comprising representatives of all of the Representative Associations, Garda Human Resources and People Development, the Finance Directorate and the Health and Safety Section of An Garda Síochána has been in place since 2000. The role of this Committee is to address issues relating to the Garda uniform and the quality of same.

In summary, the Committee:

- is responsible for examining all items of Garda uniform and uniform-related equipment;

- ensures that due consideration is given to the views, recommendations and conference motions of all the Garda Associations on matters of uniform and equipment; and

- makes appropriate recommendations to the Garda Commissioner.

A number of recommendations, which take account of responses to a survey of members of An Garda Síochána, are currently under consideration in the context of the development of a Request for Tender, via the Office for Government Procurement, for the provision of uniforms to An Garda Síochána.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

87. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if a study or review of the Garda Síochána fleet was undertaken by an external consultant (details supplied); if she has or will publish the review; the details of the recommendations made in the review; if she has acted on them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21432/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the day to day management of Garda resources, including the Garda fleet, and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that, in 2008, An Garda Síochána commissioned review by Capital Eye, a fleet transport consultancy company, of the operation of the Transport Section in Garda Headquarters. I am advised that, on foot of the review, the work processes of the Garda Transport Section were changed from a repair and maintenance model to a fleet management model based upon professional industry standards. Having regard to the expiration of time since the review and the changed work processes introduced on foot of the review, I am advised that there are no proposals for it to be published.

The Deputy will be aware that An Garda Síochána works closely with the Office of Government Procurement for the placing of contracts for the delivery of each component of expenditure included in the Garda Transport budget. This will ensure that, over the life time of the published capital envelope 2016 – 2021, the planned investment of €46 million in Garda vehicles will provide An Garda Síochána with a modern fleet to meet all operational requirements.