Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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624. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if funding will be provided for the purchase of additional four-wheel drive vehicles for An Garda Síochána. [8625/21]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The resources provided by Government to An Garda Síochána have reached unprecedented levels, with an allocation of €1.88 billion for 2020 and of €1.952 billion in Budget 2021. This level of investment is enabling sustained, ongoing recruitment of Garda members and staff. There are now approximately 14,600 Gardaí nationwide, supported by over 3,000 Garda staff. Taken together, this number of Garda members and staff is delivering a significant growth in operational policing hours nationwide.

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.

The purchase and allocation of vehicles is made on the basis of identified operational demands and the availability of resources. I am informed by the Garda authorities that orders have been placed for 18 4x4 vehicles with expected delivery in Quarter 2 this year. These vehicles will be allocated following fit-out.

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