Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 128: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of members of organised criminal gangs or their families currently operating in the country and who are known to the Gardaí; the number of such persons that have been prosecuted in the past year; the extent to which their assets have been investigated or are under investigation; the extent to which adequate resources are available to the Gardaí to pursue such inquires; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13365/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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An Garda Síochána, as part of its contribution to the Europol Organised Crime Report which was recently refined to become the Organised Crime Threat Assessment (OCTA), undertakes an annual assessment of organised crime in Ireland. The most recent assessment was completed in November 2006.

This analysis concludes that the nature of organised crime gangs continues to be the same as in previous years. There are two categories of organised crime groups operating in this jurisdiction. The first category consists of individuals/groups that are well established and tightly structured involved in drug trafficking, armed robbery and firearms offences. The second category involves groups whose activities are characterised by less cohesive group structures and criminal activities which are mainly confined to Ireland.

Because of the relative fluid nature of those involved in serious/organised crime in Ireland it is not possible to easily place them in a particular group and therefore it is not possible to provide an accurate and definitive number for the various groups operating here.

The Criminal Assets Bureau, under the Assistant Commissioner, National Support Services, works closely with other national units and senior investigating officers in all Garda Divisions to ensure, wherever possible, that assets derived from criminal activity, including drug-related crime, are subject to post-conviction confiscation, pursuant to the Criminal Justice Act 1993, civil restraint pursuant to the Proceeds of Crime Acts 1996-2005 and the relevant Revenue and Social Welfare legislation.

An Garda Síochána will continue with intelligence-led operations against selected targets to combat the criminal activities of these groups.

In relation to the resources available to the Gardaí, I wish to inform the Deputy that An Garda Síochána has never been better resourced than it is now. The personnel strength (all ranks) of An Garda Síochána increased to a record 13,178 following the attestation of 273 new members on Wednesday 14 March 2007. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) on 30 June 1997 and represents an increase of 2,476, or over 23% in the personnel strength of the Force during that period. The combined strength (all ranks), of both attested Gardaí and recruits in training on 14 March 2007 was 14,258.

Furthermore, on 19 December 2006, as part of a package of anti-crime measures, the Government approved the continuation of the existing Garda recruitment programme to achieve a total Garda strength of 15,000. The Garda Budget now stands at €1.4 billion, which represents an 11% increase on 2006.

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 general public.