Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 157: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí detailed or deployed to the pursuit of serious crime such as drug dealing, money laundering, extortion or racketeering in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29981/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength of the Garda national units investigating serious crime such as drug dealing, money laundering, extortion or racketeering as 31 December 2001-31 December 2004, and as at 18 October 2005 was as set out in the following table:

All gardaí have a responsibility to deal with offences such as drug crime, money laundering, extortion or racketeering as they arise. I am further advised by the Garda authorities that Garda personnel assigned throughout the country, together with overall policing arrangements and operational strategy, are continually monitored and reviewed. Such monitoring ensures that optimum use is made of Garda resources and that the best possible Garda service is provided to the public.

With regard to Garda resources generally, the accelerated recruitment campaign of 1,100 Garda recruits each year to reach a record force strength of 14,000, in line with the commitment in the agreed programme for Government, is fully on target. This will lead to a combined strength, of both attested Gardaí and recruits in training, of 14,000 by the end of 2006. The Garda Commissioner will now draw up plans on how best to distribute and manage these additional resources and in this context the overall needs of the Garda Síochána will be fully considered.