Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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266. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of marked and unmarked Garda cars and vans allocated to the Kildare Garda division as of 31 December 2016 and 2017 and 8 June 2018 respectively. [27989/18]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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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.  This is in addition to the investment of almost €30 million in the period 2013 to 2015.  Indeed in the period 2013 to the end of 2017, almost €44 million has been invested in the fleet with some 2,000 vehicles coming on stream in that period to assist gardaí in being mobile, visible and responsive on the roads and in the community to prevent and tackle crime.

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

I understand that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities, so as to ensure that the optimum use is made of these resources.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the table below outlines the number of marked and unmarked Garda cars and vans allocated to the Kildare Garda Division for the dates requested by the Deputy.