2026-07-01

5. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the impact the EU Presidency will have on the availability of the Garda fleet to service our communities, particularly DMR west; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49649/26]

It is apt for me to ask this question on the day that is in it. It is particularly about DMR west, which includes Clondalkin and Lucan Garda stations. I have a particular interest in the availability of Garda cars and the Garda community bus.

Today is an important day for Ireland. It is the first day of the EU Presidency. It is an important function for Ireland. We want to do it well. As I am sure the Deputy will appreciate, it is a big security challenge for An Garda Síochána. Today, the President of Ukraine was here. A huge amount of security was required for his arrival. The Deputy will permit me to take the time to commend the Commissioner and An Garda Síochána on their work today. It is challenging when a figure with as high a profile as President Zelenskyy arrives. At present, the Garda fleet is the largest it has ever been. There are 3,680 vehicles distributed throughout Garda divisions and specialist units. However, in the months leading up to the Presidency, An Garda Síochána scaled up its overall fleet capacity. We have moved up fleet capacity for the purpose of the Presidency. It is not as though the fleet is being dispersed because of the Presidency. The scaling up has been the addition of 78 cars, 75 motorcycles and 12 mini-buses. With respect to vehicles assigned to the Deputy's region, 125 vehicles are currently assigned and available to DMR west. This allocation has increased in recent years, as only 101 vehicles were assigned to the division in 2021. At the end of May, there were 772 gardaí assigned to DMR west. Some 75 probationers have been assigned from the two attestations held this year. That is the most for any division in the country. If other Deputies were in that position, they would be very happy, because, as the Deputy will be aware, most of the time when people ask me about Garda probationers, they are looking for them. Some 75 have gone this year to DMR west and a further attestation is coming later in July. These gardaí are supported by other national specialist units and by the 63 Garda staff assigned to the division.

I thank the Minister. DMR west is a huge area. It covers Blanchardstown, Clondalkin, Lucan, Saggart, Rathcoole, Brittas, Palmerstown and the junior Minister's area, Ballyfermot. It is a wide area so we need more than 125 cars. I would like to see that scaled up. I raised a situation here last year that despite having these 125 cars, on one occasion last year, only one Garda car was available to cover the Clondalkin, Rathcoole, Newcastle, Saggart and Ballyfermot area. On that particular night, there was a serious incident, because of which the car was tied up, and that meant that calls in that area went unanswered. The Garda car did not call out. I have concerns about that. I asked in the question - I know it was not in the written part - about the availability of the Garda community bus to residents in DMR west during the EU Presidency.

The Garda community bus will not be used for any Presidency activity so there will not be any impact on it. On what the Deputy said about the evening where there was only one car, that may have happened but the resources there now are significant. As I said, 125 vehicles are assigned to that division. The Deputy mentioned it is a large division. There are Deputies here representing Kerry and Donegal.

It is about population size as well.

They look at the different sections of Dublin and wonder why they are not getting more of the fleet as well.

It is about population.

The most important thing is that we have resources. I got a lot of good resources for An Garda Síochána under the national development plan. A huge amount of money is available. I want to see it spent. I want to see the fleet increase and we are seeing it increase. That will be of benefit to the people in the Deputy's area and throughout the country ensuring they can see gardaí in their communities. The most important thing the Deputy and I want to see is gardaí out in communities because it gives a great sense of confidence to people.

I respect that I only mentioned the Garda community bus at the end of my question. I got a response this week from the Garda station saying the DMR west Garda community bus will be unavailable from the end of the month for the rest of the year due to the requirements of the EU Presidency. I met two groups in the area recently, the Quarryvale Butterflies and the Rowlagh women's hub, which are campaigning for an additional bus. The bus that was available was in Blanchardstown, across the River Liffey, and we have managed to get a new bus for that area, which we will use and share. The women were delighted and are still going to campaign for the additional bus. They are really disappointed with the response I had to send to them this week indicating that the new bus we were getting for the whole of the DMR West was going to be taken for the EU Presidency. We are back to square one with no bus available. This bus is vital for community groups but also for building good, positive relationships with the Garda. I ask that the Minister do everything in his power to restore this bus and also look at funding for an additional bus for the area.

I am sorry that I was not aware of that. I will certainly follow it up. I do not know why a community bus is needed for the Presidency. I do not see the Commissioners going around in a community bus. It is something I will look into. On the funding, the Deputy might agree it would be preferable if the community had its own bus as opposed to having to use the Garda bus. As he will know, applications can be made to the community safety fund. The Department or rural and community development also has funds available. We will look into the matter and I will raise the issue of the bus. If it is not available for the six months of the Presidency, I am disappointed to hear that. I hope an alternative mode of transport can be provided for that period.