Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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229. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which the communications system in the various Garda stations throughout the country is adequately updated and upgraded to ensure an immediate response to members of the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33476/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, decisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda equipment and resources, including ICT, are a matter for the Garda Commissioner and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter.

The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Síochána Modernisation and Renewal Programme 2016-2021 is intended to professionalise, modernise and renew An Garda Síochána to ensure that the organisation can meet present and future challenges. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Programme prioritises ICT projects with the aim of fully embedding technology initiatives to improve the services delivered to communities by An Garda Síochána.

I am further advised that Garda stations are currently fitted with analog Telephone Exchanges (PABX’s) which provide the telephony requirements for the station to contact and be contacted by the public. As part of the Garda Commissioner's Modernisation and Renewal Programme (MRP) a national Voice Over IP telephony solution will be provided to integrate the telephony systems of all Garda stations into a single telephony core. This will allow An Garda Síochána to manage non-emergency calls from the public to Garda stations more efficiently, and to ensure that all calls are logged and are provided with the appropriate response.

In addition, as part of the MRP, data services are currently being rolled out to sub district stations to provide them with PULSE access and other data services. Data services to District and Divisional Headquarters are also being enhanced to ensure that members have adequate bandwidth to support their requirements and to be in a position to take advantage of modern IT infrastructure that will be rolled out during the Programme.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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231. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which the Garda transport fleet has been enhanced or is likely to be further enhanced in the coming years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33478/17]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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232. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the degree to which modern communications technology is available in all Garda vehicles; the extent to which all such vehicles are readily contactable on an ongoing basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33479/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 231 and 232 together.

The Deputy will be aware that there has been unprecedented investment in the Garda Fleet in recent years with some €46 million being invested over the lifetime of the Government's Capital Plan 2016 - 2021 to ensure that An Garda Síochána has a modern, effective and fit for purpose fleet.

The actual expenditure in new and replacement vehicles over the period 2013 to 2016 was in the region of €40 million. This works out at average expenditure of €10 million per annum compared to an average of €1.6 millionover the three year period 2009 to 2011 for example. The capital investment over the last 2 years has delivered some 874 new vehicles. There remains some €36 million available for the fleet under the Capital Plan with some €4 million being available in 2017.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that, as on 27 June, 2017, the latest date for which figures are available, the Garda fleet comprised of 2,830 vehicles. This represents an increase of 429 vehicles or almost 18% from 2013. Some 64% of the fleet is now less than 4 years old and, in fact, almost 1 in 6 vehicles are less than one-year-old. This compares with the situation in 2012, for example, where in the region of 89% of the fleet were older than four years and only 1 in 50 (i.e. 2%) of the fleet was less than one-year old.

With regard to modern communications technology, I am informed by the Garda authorities that with the exception of Ministerial and Details vehicles, all other vehicles attached to the Garda fleet are fitted out with radios suitable to meet operational requirements. All operational Garda vehicles are fitted with a secure Tetra mobile radio, which ensures the vehicle is contactable throughout the State and includes a link to the Automatic Vehicle and Personnel Location System (AVPLS) which displays the location of the Garda vehicle in Garda Control Rooms.