€11m spent to run ageing Garda fleet in past year

More than €11 million was spent in the past year maintaining ageing Garda cars, figures show.

One in four marked Garda patrol cars have more than 250,000km on the clock, just 50,000km short of the safety limit.

The prevalence of older cars is greater in some Garda divisions, with more than 40% of vehicles in Clare, Cork North and Laois/Offaly having done more than 250,000km.

A total of 71 marked patrol cars were withdrawn in the last six months of 2011 — after reaching the 300,000km limit — and no new cars were purchased to replace them.

Supplying details to Fine Gael TD for Cavan Monaghan Heather Humphreys, Justice Minister Alan Shatter said €11.4m had been spent maintaining Garda vehicles between December 2010 and November 2011.

Reacting, Ms Humphreys said: “There obviously are substantial costs involved in the maintenance of Garda cars and I think it is important that a cost-benefit analysis should be carried out to see if it would actually cost less to replace the cars rather than repairing them.

“It is my intention now to raise the matter with the minister to see if this situation can be looked at with a view to achieving substantial savings in this area.”

Separately, Mr Shatter told Fianna Fáil transport spokesman Timmy Dooley 71 marked patrols cars were withdrawn between July and December 2011 and no replacements had been purchased in that period.

Mr Shatter said there were 683 marked patrol cars in the country as of January 9, 2012. Of these, 165 (24%) had more than 250,000km on them.

Mr Shatter said provision had been made in the Garda budget for 2012 to acquire new vehicles. He said a tender was being developed and would be pursued in light of financial resources.

Mr Dooley, TD for Clare, said: “From these figures a significant number [of cars] are coming to the end of their life span. Not enough money is being set aside.

“Cars are coming off daily. It’s not good enough to have a review in six-to-eight months’ time. There needs to be an immediate process of replacement.”

Garda Representative Association president Damien McCarthy said: “We have serious concerns over the reduced capabilities of the force as a result of worn-out vehicles and the numbers being withdrawn and not replaced.

“Constant investment in the Garda fleet is a necessity, not a luxury.”