Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible, by law, for the deployment of personnel and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps this deployment under review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities to ensure optimum use is made of available resources.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that there are fewer than 10 Garda Forensic Collision Investigators (FCI) attached to Carlow-Kilkenny Division on the 7 May 2024.

I am also advised that data is not released by An Garda Síochána for counts less than 10 for data protection reasons.

I am further informed that Carlow/Kilkenny Division is also served by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators from adjoining Divisions, based in Wexford and Waterford respectively; and that recruitment and training of FCI personnel is ongoing.

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 3,516 vehicles in the Garda fleet, the highest ever and an increase of over 34% since 2015. The fleet includes 2,658 cars, 565 vans, 139 motorcycles, 102 4x4 and 52 others (refers to MPV, SUV, Minibus or Prisoner Conveyance Vehicles).

I am informed by the Garda authorities that on 30 April 2021 there were five 1250cc motorcycles attached to the Garda fleet, and I am further informed that this number had increased to 20 by 30 April 2024, the latest date for when figures are available.

I am advised that there were no 1400cc motorcycles attached to the fleet in the years requested, and that the Garda authorities currently have no plans to add 1400cc motorcycles to the Garda fleet.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities – and strengthening An Garda Síochána is at the core of that. The record budgetary allowance of €2.3 billion is allowing for sustained investment in recruitment, training and equipment.

As the Deputy will be aware, by law the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management of An Garda Síochána, including all matters relating to recruitment and training. As Minister I have no direct role in these matters.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that the estimated payroll and fixed subsistence cost of recruiting 1750 Garda in 2025 is in the region of €52m.

This sum includes a basic training allowance for 35 weeks along with 17 weeks of post attestation salary, an estimation of certain fixed allowances and variable unsocial hours allowances, employer’s PRSI, and an estimate of subsistence paid during the trainees’ deployment to an operational station. All scheduled pay rises have been considered in the calculation.

It is assumed that all recruits commence training on 1 January 2025.

Other potential costs including the cost of equipment and accommodation are not included. It should also be noted that the estimated figures do not take account of potential overtime costs in excess of estimated briefing time payments or potential future pension costs.

Any funding for An Garda Síochána will be decided in consultation with my Department under the estimates process, as part of the normal budgetary procedures.

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 managing and controlling the administration and business of An Garda Síochána as well as for decisions in relation to the purchase, allocation and management of Garda equipment and resources. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.

To provide An Garda Síochána with the equipment and resources it needs I have allocated record amounts to the Garda Vote in recent years, with over €2.35 billion allocated for 2024, an increase of 25% since 2020.

I am informed that An Garda Síochána has no record of purchasing specialist gas masks.

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 3,516 vehicles in the Garda fleet, the highest ever, and an increase of over 34% since 2015. The fleet includes 2,658 cars, 565 vans, 139 motorcycles, 102 4x4 and 52 others (refers to MPV, SUV, Minibus or Prisoner Conveyance Vehicles).

The table below, which has been provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of marked and unmarked vehicles allocated to the Garda Dog Unit on 30 April 2021 and 30 April 2024, the latest date for when figures are available.