Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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343. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if funding for the replacement of aircraft in the Garda air support unit will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37826/18]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, there has been unprecedented investment in An Garda Síochána in recent years, in support of the Government’s commitment to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement and provide reassurance to citizens and deter crime.

€1.65 billion has been allocated to the Garda Vote for 2018. This is an increase of approximately 2% over the allocation for 2017.

In terms of capital investment, €342 million, including €217 million in additional funding under the Capital Plan 2016-2021, is being invested in Garda ICT infrastructure between 2016 and 2021 to enable An Garda Síochána to deploy the latest cutting edge technologies in delivering professional policing and security services for the community. This investment will allow delivery of a broad range of projects associated with the Garda Modernisation and Renewal Programme.

The Capital Plan 2016-2021 also 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 additional to the investment of almost €30 million in the fleet in the period 2013 to 2015. In total, some 2,000 new vehicles have been added to the Garda fleet in the period 2013 to end of 2017.

Significant investment is also being made in addressing deficiencies in the Garda estate. The Garda Síochána Building and Refurbishment Programme 2016-2021 is an ambitious 5-year programme, based on agreed Garda priorities, involving over €60 million exchequer funding and benefitting over thirty locations around the country. The cell refurbishment programme has already completed works at 80 locations nationwide. And this is in addition to the provision of over €100 million for the development of 3 new Divisional and Regional Headquarters at Wexford, Galway and Dublin (Kevin Street) each of which has now been completed and entered into operational use.

I understand that the Garda Air Support Unit was established in September 1997 with the delivery of a Pilatus Britten-Norman BN 2T-4S Defender 4000 fixed wing aircraft and a Eurocopter AS355N Eceuriel helicopter. In 2001 the Unit acquired a second helicopter - a Eurocopter EC 135 T2. In 2007 the Eceuriel helicopter was replaced by a second EC135 T2+.

As the Deputy will appreciate, the question of prioritising the upgrading or replacement of these craft is in the first instance for the Commissioner, in the context of the above investment and his operational priorities. My Department will of course continue to engage with Garda management in relation to current and capital resource needs.