Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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262. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda vehicles attached to Athlone and Mullingar Garda districts as of 11 October 2019; the equivalent figures as of 1 January 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43618/19]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The resources provided by Government to An Garda Síochána have reached record levels, with an allocation for 2019 of €1.76 billion. I am pleased to have secured an overall increase of €122 million to increase An Garda Síochána's budget for 2020 to an unprecedented €1.882 billion for next year.

Very significant capital investment is also being made in An Garda Síochána, including a total of €46 million for investment in the Garda fleet between 2016 and 2021. €10 million capital funding has been made for the purchase and fit-out of Garda vehicles in 2019. I understand from the Garda authorities that this allocation is being used for purchase and fit-out of over 300 new vehicles for operational use this year. A further €9 million capital funding has been allocated for the Garda fleet in Budget 2020.

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 Commissioner in light of his identified operational demands and the availability of resources. As Minister, I have no direct role in that matter.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the strength of the Westmeath Divisional Fleet as on 17 October, 2019 is as set out in the following table.

I am further informed by the Garda authorities that the strength of the Westmeath Divisional Fleet as on 1 January 2019 was as set out in the following table.

It may be noted that An Garda Síochána has indicated that following a full review of fleet categories undertaken in August 2019, some vehicles classed as “Others” and some classed as “4 X 4” have now been reclassified as “Cars”.