Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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129. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the full cost of fitting an automatic number plate recognition system to all Garda vehicles; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39969/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, decisions in relation to the provision and allocation of resources 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 the current cost of purchasing and installing an automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) system is some €6,000 per vehicle. Given that the Garda fleet comprises some 2800 vehicles, the cost of fitting all Garda vehicles with ANPR would amount to some €16.8 million. The Deputy will appreciate that Garda vehicles are used for a range of purposes and not all Garda vehicles would require ANPR.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Síochána Modernisation and Renewal Programme 2016-2021 envisages the expansion of the number of ANPR units and all units being 3G-enabled to provide Gardaí with real-time information. It also envisages that An Garda Síochána will examine the introduction of fixed ANPR sites at strategic locations across the road network.