Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The deployment of Garda armed units is directed at highly dangerous threats, whether from organised crime or terrorism. An Garda Síochána’s primary armed special intervention capacity is in the emergency response unit, ERU which forms part of the special detective unit. At the request of the Garda Commissioner earlier this year, the Government and I moved very decisively and quickly to strengthen Garda resources to deal with gang-related crime in the Dublin area. Funding was approved for the establishment of a dedicated armed support unit, ASU, for the Dublin metropolitan area in order to enhance armed support capability in Dublin and to free up the resources of the ERU. The Dublin ASU will have a strength of 55, that is five sergeants and 50 gardaí. I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that the unit is in the process of being set up and trained as a matter of priority. Expressions of interest were sought and there were huge numbers of members of An Garda Síochána who expressed an interest in the unit, contrary to what was said at the time and I welcome that response. Additional equipment is also being acquired to equip the unit and to upgrade the equipment available to the ERU and the special detective unit. Pending the full establishment of the new unit the Garda Commissioner has put in place arrangements so that the necessary armed support is being provided on an overtime basis currently in the Dublin area.

I will now turn to funding. An additional allocation of €55 million is to be provided in 2016 including €5 million previously announced in February. This is funded from €40 million extra from the Exchequer plus €15 million from projected savings in the justice and equality sector. The armed response unit for Dublin is in the process of being set up. In the meantime other gardaí are carrying out the tasks that it will carry out on a long-term basis and I have provided the Deputy with the numbers that will be in that unit. Applications are being assessed, decisions are being made as to who will be in the unit and training will be provided.

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