Written Answers. - Parliamentary Debates - Houses of the Oireachtas

Questions— 14 February 2012. Written Answers
being purchased for An Garda Síochána will be marked or unmarked vehicles; the proportion
of each; if additional vans will be purchased; when he expects An Garda Síochána to receive
the additional vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8215/12]
Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Alan Shatter): The provision and allocation of
Garda resources, including transport, is a matter for the Garda Commissioner.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that 40 new Garda vehicles will be rolled out in the
coming weeks, all of which will be marked Garda cars. I am also informed that the number
and category of further Garda cars to be purchased will be determined following the successful
completion of a procurement process which is currently under way. The provision of new cars
will be undertaken in the light of An Garda Síochána’s operational requirements and the
availability of financial resources.
The Garda authorities have further advised that the National Procurement Service will
shortly advertise a tender for the procurement of vans. An Garda Síochána’s requirement for
vans will be addressed in that overall context.
528. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when the tender for
the contract of towing away seized vehicles in the Dublin north division was last awarded; the
cost of same; the name of the company that was awarded the contract; the length of the contract;
the average cost of hiring out the recovery truck; if the price increases or decreases
depending on the time of day; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8216/12]
Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Alan Shatter): I am advised by the Garda authorities
that the contract for the towing of seized vehicles in the Dublin North Division was
awarded to Gannon City Recovery and Recycling Services Ltd in 2009 for a period of three
years. Under the contract costs associated with the use of recovery trucks are fixed irrespective
of the time of a call out.
I am further advised that the relevant cost of towing vehicles in 2011 amounted to €255,285.
529. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the cost to the Garda
air support unit of purchasing an additional helicopter or aircraft; the cost per hour of having
either the helicopter or aircraft airborne; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[8217/12]
Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Alan Shatter): I am advised by the Garda authorities
that the cost of purchasing new aircraft for the Garda Air Support Unit can only be
established in the context of an open procurement process. In the circumstances it is not possible
to indicate such costs to the Deputy.
I am further advised that the flying costs for all Garda aircraft are borne by the Air Corps
and, accordingly, they are not charged to the Garda Vote. I have requested details in relation
to flying costs associated with the Garda Air Support Unit and I will forward these to the
Deputy when they are to hand.
Garda Civilian Staff
530. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of requests
received from An Garda Síochána to employ additional civilian staff in the years 2009, 2010,
2011 and to date in 2012; the job title of each request; the number of requests that were
approved, pending or refused in each of these years; and if he will make a statement on the
matter. [8218/12]
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