Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

272. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of vehicles in the Garda fleet for the Carlow-Kilkenny Garda division registered ten years ago and over as of 31 December 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7100/18]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy will appreciate, decisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda vehicles are a matter for the Garda Commissioner in light of his identified operational demands and the availability of resources and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter.

However, I am informed by the Garda authorities that there are some 81 Garda vehicles allocated to the Kilkenny/Carlow Division of which six (five in Kilkenny District and one in Carlow District) were registered over ten years ago.

The Government's Capital Plan 2016 – 2021 provides €46 million for investment in the Garda Fleet to ensure that An Garda Síochána has a modern, effective and fit for purpose fleet and this is in addition to the investment of almost €30 million in the period 2013 to 2015.

In the period 2013 to end of 2017, some €44 million has been invested in the fleet with some 2,000 vehicles coming on stream in that period.

As of 23 January 2018, some 65% of the fleet is now less than four years old. This compares with the situation in 2012, for example, where in the region of 89% of the fleet was older than four years.