Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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935. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 462 on 13 February 2024, if she has received the necessary information from the Garda authorities to have this PQ answered. [12600/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I note that the Deputy previously asked for the number of Gardaí, by rank, attached to the Garda Water Unit as of 2 February 2024 and the same figures as of 1 March 2021. At the time I requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Unfortunately, the information was not received in time.

As the Deputy will be aware the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes the allocation of Garda members to a given Division, District, Station or specialist unit. As Minister I have no role in this and cannot seek to direct the Commissioner in relation this process.

I am assured that the Commissioner keeps the allocation of these resources under continued review to ensure their optimum use. Among the factors considered are population statistics, crime trends and operational policing demands.

The Garda authorities have informed me that the number of Gardaí assigned to the Water Unit for the time periods requested are fewer than 10. As the Deputy may already be aware, further data is not released by An Garda Síochána for counts of fewer than 10 for data protection and security reasons.

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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936. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of new vehicles added to the Garda roads policing unit fleet in 2023 and to-date in 2024; the number of vehicles withdrawn from the Garda roads policing unit fleet during the same period, in tabular form. [12601/24]

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, allocation, and effective and efficient use of Garda vehicles. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions.

The unprecedented allocation of over €2.35 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.

There are now over 3,400 vehicles in the Garda fleet, the highest ever and a 31% increase since 2015.

The table below, which was provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of vehicles added and removed from the Roads Policing fleet in 2023 and 2024.

I am further advised that, as of 14 March 2024, the latest date for when figures are available, there were a total of 329 vehicles assigned to Roads Policing.

It is important to note that road traffic legislation is enforced as part of the day-to-day duties of members of An Garda Síochána, as well as through a programme of high-visibility road safety and enforcement operations carried out in partnership with other state agencies, in order to make our roads safer for all. All frontline Gardaí contribute to policing our roads and keeping them safe and, on average, 25% of roads policing enforcement is carried out by regular members, with the exception of drug/drink driving checks, 75% of which are carried out by regular members.

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

I am also informed that the allocation of vehicles is monitored and reviewed on a continual basis to ensure the best match with operational requirements.