Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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149. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the resources, personnel and vehicles for Balbriggan, Dublin Airport, Garristown, Lusk, Malahide, Skerries and Swords in each year from 2011 to 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42850/18]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Commissioner is the Accounting Officer for the Garda Vote and as such is responsible for the effective and efficient use of the resources at his disposal. Those resources have reached unprecedented levels, with an allocation for 2018 of more than €1.6 billion. And I can confirm that €1.76 billion has been allocated to the Garda Vote for 2019, which represents an increase of over 6% over the initial allocation for 2018.

In terms of capital investment, €342 million is being invested in Garda ICT infrastructure between 2016 and 2021 to enable An Garda Síochána to deploy the latest cutting edge technologies and to deliver on reform. €46 million is being made available for investment in the Garda Fleet over the same period, in addition to the investment of almost €30 million in the fleet from 2013 to 2015. Significant investment is also being made in addressing deficiencies in the Garda estate.

This significant current and capital investment in An Garda Síochána is in support of the Government’s commitment to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country, to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and deter crime. 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 their optimum use.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that the areas referred to by the Deputy are all located within the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) North Division. Balbriggan, Garristown, Lusk and Skerries are within Balbriggan District, Malahide and Swords are within Coolock District, and Dublin Airport is within Ballymun District.

Responsibility for the efficient deployment of all official Garda vehicles in each Division is assigned to the Divisional Officer, who may allocate vehicles between districts and stations as required by operational requirements. I am advised by the Garda authorities that the vehicles allocated to the Garda districts which comprise DMR North Division from 2011 to 2017 and as at October 2018 are outlined in the following table:

In relation to the Garda estate, the Deputy will appreciate that the programme of replacement and refurbishment of Garda accommodation is progressed by the Garda authorities working in close cooperation with the Office of Public Works (OPW), which has responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.

I would refer to the Deputy to the Garda Station Building and Refurbishment Programme 2016-2021, based on agreed Garda priorities, which is benefiting over 30 locations nationwide, backed by over €60 million Exchequer funding. This is in addition to over €100 million the Government provided for construction of the new Regional and Divisional Headquarters now operational in Galway, Wexford and Kevin Street, Dublin.

The refurbishment of one of the stations referred to by the Deputy, Dublin airport, is included in the Building and Refurbishment Programme. Works are ongoing in the refurbishment of Transaer House to include Dublin Airport Garda Station and facilities for the Garda National Immigration Bureau and I am informed by the OPW works are expected to be complete by the end of 2018.

In addition, as the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for a Partnership Government commits to a pilot scheme to reopen 6 Garda stations, both urban and rural, to determine possible positive impacts that such openings will have on criminal activity, with special emphasis on burglaries, theft and public order. Among the stations to be reopened in the pilot programme is Rush Garda Station, in the area referred to by the Deputy, along with stations in Ballinspittle, Co. Cork, Bawnboy, Co. Cavan, Donard, Co. Wicklow, Leighlinbridge, Co. Carlow and Stepaside, Co. Dublin. Implementation of the programme and reopening of all 6 stations is being pursued as a priority and it is understood that the OPW expects works should be completed in each case in 2019.

Finally, the information requested by the Deputy in relation to Garda personnel is available on my Department's website, as provided by the Garda Commissioner, at the following link:

For more general information on Garda Facts and Figures, the Deputy may also refer to the following link:

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