Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

I am informed by the Garda authorities that a total of 331 gardaí are dedicated to national and regional drugs units. These units are also supported in their work by officers from other national units such as the national bureau of criminal investigation, the Garda bureau of fraud investigation and the Criminal Assets Bureau. In addition, all gardaí are tasked with confronting drugs-related issues as they arise. As the Deputy will appreciate, policing operations and the deployment of Garda resources are matters for the Garda Commissioner. It is the responsibility of Garda management to allocate personnel within the Garda organisation on a priority basis in accordance with overall policing requirements. The Garda Commissioner responsible for the allocation of Garda officers sanctioned the immediate recruitment at a minimum of an additional two sergeants and ten gardaí to the national drugs unit, thereby increasing the personnel strength of the unit to 60. I understand that competitive interviews for these positions have recently been completed and the additional personnel will shortly be appointed. Garda personnel assigned throughout the country, together with overall policing arrangements and operational strategy, are continually monitored and reviewed by him. Such monitoring ensures optimum use is made of Garda resources, and the best policing service is provided to the public. I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the total personnel strength in all ranks of the Garda national drugs unit is 48 although that is, as I said, about to be increased to 60. On 1 March 2007 there was one detective chief superintendent, two detective superintendents, three detective inspectors, one inspector who was a customs liaison officer, seven detective sergeants, two sergeants, 31 detective gardaí and one uniformed garda. In conjunction with this, I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Commissioner is also currently arranging for an additional allocation of personnel to the national unit.

On the broader issue of Garda resources being made available by the Government, in December 2006, as part of a package of anti-crime measures, I secured Government approval for the continuation of the existing Garda recruitment programme to achieve a total Garda strength of 15,000. The Taoiseach and I have recently agreed to increase that figure to 16,000.

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