Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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429. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of new marked and unmarked Garda vehicles that were allocated to Garda National Technical Bureau in 2019 and 2020; the number of vehicles withdrawn during the same period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2732/21]

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.

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.

An Garda Síochána has been allocated an unprecedented budget of €1.952 billion for 2021. This level of funding is enabling sustained, ongoing recruitment of Garda members and staff. As a result, there are now some 14,600 Garda members and over 3,000 Garda staff nationwide. Budget 2021 will allow for the recruitment of up to 620 new Gardaí and an extra 500 Garda staff.

There will also be continued investment in the Garda Fleet of €8 million in addition to the highest ever investment of approximately €15 million in the Garda Transport Fleet in 2020 – a proportion of which relates to the Garda Covid response.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the total number of vehicles in the Technical Bureau Fleet as on 15 January 2021 is as follows:

I am further informed that the number of vehicles allocated and removed from the Garda National Technical Bureau in 2019 and 2020 is shown in the table below:

All of the vehicles that were allocated and removed were unmarked.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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430. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if funding will be made available in 2021 to purchase additional Garda command and control vehicles; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2733/21]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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An Garda Síochána has been allocated an unprecedented budget of €1.952 billion for 2021. This level of funding is enabling sustained, ongoing recruitment of Garda members and staff. As a result, there are now some 14,600 Garda members and over 3,000 Garda staff nationwide. Budget 2021 will allow for the recruitment of up to 620 new Gardaí and an extra 500 Garda staff.

There will also be continued investment in the Garda Fleet of €8 million in addition to the highest ever investment of approximately €15 million in the Garda Transport Fleet in 2020 – a proportion of which relates to the Garda Covid response.

Under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, as amended, the Garda Commissioner has responsibility for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána and for the allocation and efficient use of Garda resources. This includes responsibility for the distribution of Garda vehicles across the various Garda Divisions.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the number and type of vehicles that will be purchased in 2021 has not yet been determined.

I am further informed that the purchase and allocation of vehicles is made on the basis of identified operational demands and the availability of resources.

The allocation of Garda vehicles is monitored and reviewed on a continual basis to ensure the best match with operational requirements.