Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The unprecedented allocation of over €2 billion for 2023 and €2.3 billion for 2024 to An Garda Síochána demonstrates the Government's commitment to ensuring An Garda Síochána has provision for the equipment, technology, facilities, fleet and personnel it needs to carry out vital policing work.

As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including the purchase, allocation, and effective and efficient use of Garda vehicles. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.

However, I can inform the Deputy that as of 30 November there were 3,447 vehicles attached to the Garda fleet which represents an increase of almost 11% since the end of 2020, and is the highest number of vehicles attached to the Garda fleet ever.

I am advised 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.

The table below, which was provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of vehicles attached to the Garda fleet at the end of December 2019 up to 2022, and as of 30 November 2023.

Garda Fleet	Cars	Vans	Motorcycles	4 x 4	*Others	Total
30/11/2023	2,625	531	136	102	53	3,447
31/12/2022	2,517	514	129	99	53	3,312
31/12/2021	2,451	506	128	101	54	3,240
31/12/2020	2,348	496	127	88	53	3,112
31/12/2019	2,044	500	116	81	53	2,794

*The category 'others' refers to MPV, SUV, Minibus or Prisoner Conveyance Vehicles

The Deputy may also wish to be aware that An Garda Síochána publishes information on Garda fleet, including a Divisional/District monthly breakdown, on the Garda website at:

www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/finance-services/finance-fleet-management.html

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes the provision of equipment and the allocation of resources to specialist units. As Minister, I have no role in this matter.

I have been informed by the Garda authorities that it is the policy of An Garda Síochána not to make any public statement regarding operational and security matters that would disclose sensitive information regarding the operational deployment capabilities of An Garda Síochána. This includes the number of tasers and firearms available to An Garda Síochána.

Following the scenes of violent disorder in Dublin on 23 November, the Garda Commissioner, in consultation with his senior management team, has moved quickly to strengthen some aspects of the equipment used in policing serious public order incidents. These include the deployment of tasers to an increased number of appropriately trained and qualified Gardaí, among other measures such as the deployment of stronger incapacitant spray to all Gardaí and he is considering the provision of smaller round shields to public order units which are already equipped with long and medium shields.