John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 379: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason he has reduced the number of Garda personnel in the drug squad in Sligo from seven to four; his plans to increase the unit to seven in view of the increased availability of drugs in Sligo. [38745/05]

John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 380: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if there is coverage in Sligo city 24 hours per day and seven days per week by Garda personnel trained in the drug squad unit and not from other Garda ranks; if there are shifts where there is no coverage; if so, his plans on covering such shifts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38746/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 379 and 380 together.

I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength of the Sligo-Leitrim division as at 31 December 1997 was 257 in all ranks. The personnel strength of the Sligo-Leitrim division as at 9 December 2005 was 269 in all ranks. This represents an increase of 12, or 4.66%, in the number of personnel allocated to the Sligo-Leitrim division since that date.

I have been further informed by the Garda authorities that the personnel strength of the drugs unit in the division as at 12 December 2005 was seven in all ranks. The personnel strength of the drug unit in the Sligo district as at 12 December 2005 was four in all ranks. The unit works between 9 a.m. and 4 a.m. depending on the rostered tour of duty of the members attached to the drugs unit. The unit is assisted from time to time by other uniform and detective members attached to Sligo Garda station. In addition, Ballymote, Manorhamilton and Carrick-On-Shannon Garda stations each have one member dedicated to drug enforcement and these three members also assist the drugs unit at Sligo.

Garda management have informed me that local Garda management are satisfied there is adequate cover to meet the present policing needs of the area. While the drugs unit in the Sligo-Leitrim division are dedicated to drug enforcement, all gardaí, inter alia, have responsibility for the enforcement of drugs related legislation. Local management also report that members who have previously worked with the drugs unit at Sligo are now working with the regular units at Sligo and will have brought the skills they have learned while attached to the drugs unit with them to the new units and will enforce drugs related legislation where necessary.

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 the best possible Garda service is provided to the general public. With regard to Garda resources generally, the accelerated recruitment campaign to reach a record force strength of 14,000, in line with the commitment in An 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 be drawing up plans on how best to distribute and manage these additional resources, and in this context the needs of the Sligo division will be fully considered within the overall context of the needs of Garda divisions throughout the country.