Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 577: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of divisional drug units, the personnel and the resources made available for them; his plans to expand upon the existing units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7021/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I have been informed by the Garda authorities, which are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength of each Garda divisional drug unit as of February, 2006 was as set out in the following table.

I have been further informed that the personnel strength of the Garda national drug unit as of February 2006 was 52, namely, one chief superintendent, two superintendents, four inspectors, ten sergeants and 35 gardaí.

Garda management states that any proposed extension of existing units, or the establishment of new units, is a matter for divisional officers having due regard to the nature and extent of the drug issue locally and the availability of resources in conjunction with the Garda Síochána's commitments to the national drugs strategy.

The timescale for achieving the target strength of 14,000 members of the Garda Síochána in line with the commitment in An Agreed Programme for Government remains as when I announced the Government approval in October 2004 for my proposals to achieve this objective. The phased increase in the strength of the Garda Síochána to 14,000 will lead to a combined strength, of both attested gardaí and recruits in training, of 14,000 by the end of this year. As part of the accelerated recruitment campaign to facilitate this process, 1,125 Garda recruits were inducted to the Garda College during 2005. The college will induct 1,100 recruits this year and a further 1,100 in 2007, by way of intakes to the Garda College of approximately 275 recruits every quarter. This project is fully on target and will be achieved.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the first incremental increase of newly attested gardaí due to the programme of accelerated recruitment into the Garda Síochána will take place on 16 March 2006. Garda management states that during the allocation of the newly attested personnel, the needs of the Garda divisional drug units will be fully considered within the overall context of the needs of Garda units throughout the country.