Written answers
Tuesday, 10 November 2020
Department of Justice and Equality
Garda Equipment
Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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625. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the Garda divisions within the Dublin region that have a Garda community support van; and if funding has been made available in 2021 for the purchase of additional community support vans. [34981/20]
Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration 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. 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 am informed by the Garda authorities that members who are assigned to Community Policing Teams on a full time basis are classed as Community Policing Gardaí.
Community Relations duty refers to regular members who undertake Community Policing as part of their daily operational roles in a blended capacity rather than in a dedicated capacity.
For the Deputy's information the table below sets out the number of vehicles assigned to Community Policing duty and Community Relations duty in the DMR at 5 November 2020.
| Community Police Duty | Cars | Vans | Motorbikes | 4 x 4 | *Others | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMR EAST DIVISION | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| DMR NORTH DIVISION | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| DMR SOUTH DIVISION | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| DMR WEST DIVISION | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total D.M.R. | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Community Relations Duty | Cars | Vans | Motorbikes | 4 x 4 | *Others | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMR EAST DIVISION | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| DMR NORTH DIVISION | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| DMR NORTH CENTRAL DIVISION | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| DMR SOUTH DIVISION | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| DMR SOUTH CENTRAL DIVISION | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| DMR WEST DIVISION | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Total | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 22 |
*The category 'others' refers to MPV, SUV, Minibus or Prisoner Conveyance Vehicles
Significant capital investment is being made in An Garda Síochána, including a total of €46 million specifically for the Garda fleet between 2016 and 2021. 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.
Of this investment, a total of €9 million was made available for purchase and fit-out of additional Garda vehicles in 2020. I am also informed that in order to protect the ongoing availability of vehicles and in anticipation of the impact 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 and fit-out costs of €600,000. The purchase and allocation of these and all other vehicles in the fleet is entirely a matter for the Commissioner and his management team. I am informed that the number and type of vehicles that will be purchased in 2021 has not yet been determined.
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