Fine Gael TD for Dun Laoghaire, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, has welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald that €5.3 million is to be spent on 260 new Garda vehicles between now and the end of the year. These vehicles will be used to assist the Gardaí in their pursuit of mobile gangs.

“These 260 vehicles will be added to the 370 vehicles that have already come on stream so far this year and they will be used to tackle the scourge of highly-mobile criminal gangs committing crimes in Dun Laoghaire and across the country.

“Minister Fitzgerald has allocated €5.3 million for 260 vehicles which will provide the Gardaí with additional high powered vehicles; marked and unmarked patrol cars; cars for surveillance; motorcycles for high visibility policing and vehicles for public order policing.

“This investment will support Gardaí to carry-out more visible and responsive patrols of motorways and rural communities. The extra vehicles will give them the resources to increase surveillance of criminal gangs and to enhance night-time public order policing.

“Including this announcement this Government will have invested over €34 million in new Garda vehicles since 2012, marking a massive increase on the €4.8 million provided by the previous Government between 2009 and 2011.

“Continued investment in An Garda Síochána is vital to provide a modern, effective and fit-for-purpose Garda force. This investment will continue with the recruitment of an additional 600 Gardaí to add to the 550 who have been recruited since this Government reopened Templemore. Investment will also continue through the Capital Plan 2016-2021 which provides an additional €46 million for new Garda vehicles.

“In July, Minister Fitzgerald published a new Bail bill to strengthening the law to get tougher on serious and repeat offenders out on bail. This new law will see a clamp down on repeat burglars and will support the Gardaí who work extremely hard to catch criminals.

“This Government is committed to ensuring that the Gardaí have all the necessary tools at their disposal to tackle crime. New, high powered vehicles, in addition to more Gardaí, improved ICT and stronger laws will give the force more resources to do their job in Dun Laoghaire and countrywide.”