Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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1279. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons arrested for burglary within the Meath Garda division on 24 and 25 December 2021; and if she will provide same figures for 2019 and 2020, in tabular form. [1902/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I can assure the Deputy that I am very much aware of the impact of crime on rural communities and I am committed to ensuring that there is strong, visible community policing right across rural Ireland.

As the Deputy is aware, a key pillar of the Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, is building stronger and safer communities.  I can assure the Deputy that my Department is committed to ensuring that there is strong, visible community policing right across Ireland, both rural and urban. 

While An Garda Síochána has provided very dedicated service to assisting in the national effort to combat the threat of COVID-19, ordinary policing has of course also continued throughout the period. This includes the winter phase of Operation Thor, which was launched on 1 October 2021 and will run until 31 March 2022. Operation Thor is designed to tackle the increase in the number of burglaries and associated criminal activity that usually occur in winter months by undertaking targeted enforcement and preventative activity, highlighted through public information campaigns including 'Lock up, Light up' etc. These initiatives have been successful in dramatically reducing the rate of winter burglaries, leading to a significant decline in property-related crime since its introduction in 2015.

In relation to the number of persons arrested for burglary within the Meath Garda division on 24 and 25 December in each of the years 2019, 2020 and 2021, I am informed by the Garda authorities that a breakdown cannot be provided as An Garda Síochána do not report on incident types numbering under 10 in a given timeframe/geographic locale, due to data protection concerns.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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1280. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of new marked vehicles allocated to the Garda Technical Bureau in 2020 and 2021, in tabular form; and the number of vehicles withdrawn from the Garda Technical Bureau during same period. [1903/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including the purchase of vehicles and their allocation to Garda units. As Minister, I have no direct role in the matter.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that the purchase and allocation of vehicles is made on the basis of identified operational demands and the availability of resources. I am further advised that the allocation of Garda vehicles is monitored and reviewed on a continual basis to ensure the best match with operational requirements.

I have been informed by the Garda authorities no marked vehicles were allocated to or withdrawn from the Garda Technical Bureau in 2020 or 2021.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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1281. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí trained in public order in each Garda division as of 31 December 2021, in tabular form. [1905/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I have requested a report on the information sought by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána and unfortunately the report was not to hand in time.

I will write to the Deputy on receipt of the requested information.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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1282. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if a recent contract for the provision of medium-sized Garda vans was put out to tender; and if so, when these new vans will come into the fleet. [1906/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including the purchase of vehicles and their allocation to Garda units. As Minister, I have no direct role in the matter.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that the purchase and allocation of vehicles is made on the basis of identified operational demands and the availability of resources. I am further advised that the allocation of Garda vehicles is monitored and reviewed on a continual basis to ensure the best match with operational requirements.

I am further informed by the Garda authorities that the supply of medium-sized vans to An Garda Síochána was tendered and a contract is currently in place. Six new medium size vans are due to be added to An Garda Síochána Fleet in 2022.