Almost 40 per cent of Galway’s garda fleet is over six years old, it has been revealed, as local representatives raise concerns that the vehicles are not fit for purpose.

There have been claims that gardaí are having to attend incidents miles from their station on-foot due to a lack of appropriate transportation.

In response to a parliamentary question from Deputy Noel Grealish (Ind), the Minister for Justice released figures which show that 44 vehicles in the Galway Garda division’s 115-strong fleet were manufactured in 2016 or before it.

Just seven vehicles (6.1 per cent) were less than one-year old, while ten were one to two years old. Those aged at two to four years old amounted to 31, while the remaining 23 were registered four to six years ago.

This comes after Cllr Donal Lyons (Ind) raised the issue at a City Joint Policing Committee (JPC) meeting where Galway Chief Superintendent Gerard Roche refused to release the figures.

Cllr Lyons said he had serious concerns about local gardaí’s ability to fulfil their duties due to the poor condition of some of their vehicles and the small number of cars available to them.

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