Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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325. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda public order unit vans attached to each Garda division outside Dublin as at 11 May 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7112/20]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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In accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for managing and controlling the administration and business of An Garda Síochána. In addition, the allocation of Garda resources is a matter for the Commissioner, in light of identified operational demands. This includes responsibility for the allocation of Garda vehicles among the various Garda Divisions.

As Minister, I have no role in these matters. I am assured, however, that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities, to ensure their optimum use.

I understand that as part of the overall Garda fleet, a total of 29 vehicles categorised as public order vans are deployed nationally across all Garda regions. The following table, furnished to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the detail requested by the Deputy namely the public order vans attached to each Garda Division outside the Dublin Metropolitan Region as at 18 May 2020.

Finally, it may be noted that significant capital investment is being made in An Garda Síochána. This includes a total of €46 million specifically for the Garda fleet between 2016 and 2021. Of this investment, a total of €9 million has been made available for purchase and fit-out of additional Garda vehicles in 2020. This continuing investment is intended to ensure that An Garda Síochána has a modern, effective and fit-for-purpose fleet and that Gardaí can be mobile, visible and responsive on the roads and in the community to prevent and tackle crime.

In that regard it may be of interest to the Deputy to know that, in order to protect the ongoing availability of vehicles and in anticipation of impacts of public health restrictions on motor factory or fit-out workplaces, 94 additional vehicles were purchased by the Garda authorities in March 2020 at a cost of €2.4m. The fit-out cost of these vehicles was €600,000. I am further advised that 210 hired vehicles have been allocated nationwide at this time, at a monthly hire cost €45,545, excluding fuel and other costs.