Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

930. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the breakdown of the age profile of the Garda vehicle fleet in the Westmeath division. [46375/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes the distribution of resources, including the Garda fleet, across the various Garda Divisions. As Minister, I have no direct role in this matter.

The Government is committed to providing An Garda Síochána with the resources needed to keep people safe. This is reflected in the unprecedented allocation of over €2.48 billion in Budget 2025. This is allowing for sustained investment in recruitment, equipment, technology, and vehicles.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that, at the end of December 2024, there were 3,589 vehicles attached to the Garda fleet, the highest total of vehicles ever in use by An Garda Síochána. This represents an increase of over 15% since the end of December 2020.

As the Deputy is aware the Divisions of Meath and Westmeath have merged as part of the new Operating Model. I am advised that on 31 December 2024 there were 149 vehicles attached to the Meath/Westmeath Division, which includes: 118 cars, 23 vans, 4 motorcycles, 3 4x4, and 1 other. The category 'other' refers to MPV, SUV, Minibus or Prisoner Conveyance Vehicles.

The table below, which was provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of vehicles attached to the Meath/Westmeath Division by age at the end of December 2024.

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

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

931. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Gardaí within the Tipperary division that are trained and qualified in the use of drones and in legislation dealing with drones being used within public order spaces. [46382/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the number of Gardaí within Tipperary Division that are currently trained in the usage of drones, and in legislation dealing with drones being used within public order spaces, is less than 10. I am further advised that national support is drawn upon in such events.

I am informed data is not released by An Garda Síochána for counts less than 10, for data protection and security reasons.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

932. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of marked and unmarked jeeps added to the Garda fleet in 2023 and to date in 2024; and the number of marked and unmarked jeeps withdrawn from the fleet during same period, in tabular form. [46383/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes management of the Garda fleet including the purchasing and allocation of Garda vehicles. I am advised that this is done on the basis of identified operational demands, the availability of resources and is reviewed on a continual basis.

The Government is committed to providing An Garda Síochána with the resources needed to keep people safe. This is reflected in the unprecedented allocation of over €2.48 billion in Budget 2025. This is allowing for sustained investment in recruitment, equipment, technology, and vehicles.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that, at the end of December 2024, there were 3,589 vehicles attached to the Garda fleet, which includes: 2,653 cars, 625 vans, 160 motorcycles, 97 4x4 and 54 others. (The category 'others' refers to MPV, SUV, Minibus or Prisoner Conveyance Vehicles). This represents an increase of over 15% since the end of December 2020 and the highest total of vehicles ever in use by An Garda Síochána.

The table below, which has been provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of 4x4 vehicles allocated to and removed from the Garda fleet in 2023.

The table below sets out the number of 4x4 vehicles allocated to and removed from the Garda fleet in 2024.

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

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

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

933. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of residential properties and vehicles seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau where a power of sale exists, in tabular form. [46384/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) is a multi-agency statutory body established under the Criminal Assets Bureau Act 1996. The Bureau’s remit is to target a person's assets, wherever situated, which derive, or are suspected to derive, directly or indirectly, from criminal conduct. Since its inception, the Bureau has been at the forefront of fighting organised crime in this jurisdiction and disrupting the activities of criminal gangs by depriving them of ill-gotten assets.

The Bureau has staff drawn from An Garda Síochána, the Office of the Revenue Commissioners (including Customs), the Department of Social Protection and my Department.

I am advised that all monies seized by CAB are remitted to the Central Fund of the Exchequer after the appropriate statutory time frame under the Proceeds of Crime Acts (currently seven years must elapse from date of seizure to remittance to the Exchequer). Therefore, assets (including property) seized in a given year are not remitted to the Exchequer in that year.

I am given to understand that the Deputy is seeking the number of residential properties and the number of vehicles that CAB have seized where a power of sale exists, for the year 2024. As outlined above, property seized by the Bureau may only be sold once a disposal is authorised by a Court order under the Proceeds of Crime Acts and a 'power of sale' is granted to the Bureau.

I have been advised by the Bureau that the below table outlines the figures for 2024 requested by the Deputy.