John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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54. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Segway vehicles in use by the Garda in the Dublin metropolitan area; the cost of provision of the Segways; the cost of training and other associated costs such as insurance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23770/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The provision and allocation of Garda resources and equipment is a matter for the Garda Commissioner in the light of her identified policing priorities and the availability of resources within an Garda Síochána and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that there are currently four Segways deployed by local Garda Management in the Dublin Metropolitan Region as part of high-visibility initiatives and patrols. I am further advised that members of An Garda Síochána on Segways can patrol larger areas than members on foot patrol and can negotiate places a car or even bicycle cannot go.

The four Segways were provided to An Garda Síochána by the business communities in the DMR North Central and South Central Garda Divisions in 2012 and 2014 and training was provided as part of their purchase at no cost to An Garda Síochána.

For the purposes of insurance, the vehicles are considered to be part of the Garda Fleet.