€46M GARDA FLEET
More funding needed, says officers’ group
DONALD Trump has blasted “angry mobs” who toppled statues of Confederate leaders in Black Lives Matter demonstrations.
The US President hit out in a speech to mark Independence Day yesterday at the Mount Rushmore memorial in South Dakota.
The location is controversial as two of four ex-presidents carved into the rock – George Washington and Thomas Jefferson – owned slaves.
Mr Trump called the demos “a merciless campaign to wipe out our history, defame our heroes, erase our values, indoctrinate our children”.
Trump and protester at Mount Rushmore which were being removed from use due to high mileage or because they were no longer roadworthy.
The total €46million investment began in 2016 and will run until the end of 2021.
In 2019, a total of 342 vehicles were bought while 313 were removed and this year, from
January to May, 233 were allocated and 99 removed.
These figures do not include the additional 210 vehicles which have been hired by An Garda Siochana this year to provide additional capacity during the Covid-19 pandemic.
GRA assistant general secretary, Dermot O’brien, said more funding is needed as patrol cars are only taken off the road when they reach 300,000km.
He added: “As a result of Covid we got an additional 210 extra vehicles which weren’t emergency response but were standard vehicles and they have proven to be very useful. The 300,000km mark for changing a vehicle in our view is too high.” Former Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan told the Dail recently significant investment was being made to the fleet.
He said: “This continuing investment is intended to ensure An Garda Siochana has a modern, effective and fit-forpurpose fleet and gardai can be mobile, visible and responsive on the roads and in the community.”
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