Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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20. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if the Dublin armed support unit in An Garda Síochána is in place and operational; the number of gardaí in the unit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17122/16]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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As the Tánaiste is aware, serious gangland crime continues in Dublin. She has stated that the threat is severe and is a significant challenge to the gardaí, and not just the gardaí on the north inner city of Dublin but to gardaí throughout the city. Fortunately they are meeting that challenge and have been very active as was seen last weekend.

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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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.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I recognise that resources are crucial in order to meet the challenge posed by organised crime. I welcome that the Tánaiste has been apprised by the Garda Commissioner that the unit will have 55 gardaí. It is not a matter for the Tánaiste or me to get involved in operational matters with regard to whether that number is sufficient or insufficient. However, I am slightly worried that the Tánaiste states that the unit is being set up and that gardaí will be trained. There is an urgency to this matter, as I know the Tánaiste will appreciate. In those circumstances, perhaps the Tánaiste will clarify when the unit will be set up, when the training will be complete and when the people of Dublin will know that this special organised crime unit is active and is there to defend them and, more importantly, that the serious criminals involved in gangland crime will know that this House and the State is serious about meeting the threat from organised crime.

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I assure the Deputy and the people of Dublin that armed support is actually in place, but not by the dedicated unit that will be the armed support unit. The function is currently performed on an overtime basis because it is essential, given the challenges we face, particularly in the north inner city of Dublin and surrounding area. Once the Government had agreed the funding the Garda Commissioner moved as quickly as possible to advertise the positions. There was a very large response that is taking some time to process. The Garda Commissioner informs me that she hopes the Dublin armed response unit will be in place later this year.

In the meantime the resources and people are there to provide the armed response that is needed. As the Deputy has acknowledged, the work is ongoing, crimes have been prevented, investigations are taking place and people are being prosecuted before the courts. I thank the Garda for the work being undertaken by gardaí in the most dangerous situations where there are those who are intent on that cycle of revenge and retaliation.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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On behalf of myself and Fianna Fáil, I acknowledge and thank An Garda Síochána for the excellent work the gardaí are doing. However, it is obviously the case that senior gardaí and commissioners can be reticent when it comes to stating publicly that they need further resources. Ultimately this is a battle that will be defeated if sufficient resources are provided to An Garda Síochána. I welcome the fact that an extra €50 million has been allocated but can the Tánaiste clarify if she will be seeking more resources in Budget 2017? This is a battle that needs to be continually met and our resources need to be continually added to in order to ensure this battle is won.

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I am very pleased that the extra €50 million was available two weeks ago which is expected to support the work of An Garda Síochána until the end of 2016 in three areas - gang related crime, Operation Thor and in the area of security. It is important to continue the work of Operation Thor throughout the State so that the work of criminal gangs which are intent on burglaries can be interrupted and we can prevent those crimes. With regard to security, we must be increasingly conscious from a security perspective of the threats out there and the Garda have to put resources into that area. The resources that have been brought forward by the Government are intended to ensure that this work will be supported through to the end of the year. We will have further discussions regarding next year's budget.