Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 152: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the outcome of the pilot programme to expand the Garda dog unit to Cork and Limerick; when it is proposed to expand the unit nationwide; and the implications of such an expansion in terms of the number of additional gardaí and dogs. [37037/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda Dog Unit consists of 26 Garda dogs and is staffed by 2 Sergeants and 14 Gardaí. There are currently two dogs being trained in Tactical Support and a further dog in blood detection. It is proposed to expand the Garda Dog Unit nationwide, on a Regional basis and to this end a pilot, in the Southern division (based in Cork and Limerick) has just been completed and is being evaluated.

Following the evaluation of the recent pilot in the Southern Region a decision on the further Regionalisation of the Unit will be made. The Regionalisation plan, if fully implemented, will result in an increase in the number of Garda dog handlers to 29 and the number of dogs to approximately 50.