James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 23: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of drug sniffer dogs available and used in the fight against illegal drugs here (details supplied); his views on making more widespread use of such dogs in the community to aid detection of drugs in communities and to inhibit the free sale of drugs in places of public entertainment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34377/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Under the National Drugs Strategy, the Customs Service of the Revenue Commissioners has primary responsibility for the prevention, detection, interception and seizure of controlled drugs intended to be smuggled into the State. I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that as part of its enforcement resources, the Customs Service currently deploys 13 detector dog teams. These teams are based at strategic locations throughout the State. All detector dog teams have passive dogs which allow for the screening of passengers as well as merchandise and baggage.

As the illegal movement of cash is the life-blood of drug trafficking and organised crime, following the passing of the Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Act 2005, the Customs authorities introduced cash detection capability also and the Service now have a dedicated detector dog team in place for this purpose. There is a growing investment by Customs in drug detection resources and the Revenue Commissioners advise me that they regard the deployment of detector dogs as a very important part of this resource.

The Commissioners also believe in ensuring that the detector dog teams maintain a high public visibility at the ports, airports, postal depots and freight forwarders' premises in which they routinely operate. The Customs detector dogs also assist An Garda Síochána, whenever requested to do so. The cost of the Customs detector dog programme in 2006 was €1,439,000. In addition, I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda Dog Unit consists of 2 Sergeants and 14 Gardaí and currently has 26 dogs. Six of these dogs, two of which are based in the Southern Region, are skilled in drugs and firearms residue detection. There are also 14 general purpose dogs — skilled in public order duties, tracking for missing persons, criminals and articles contaminated by human scent; 5 dogs skilled in explosives detection; 1 dog skilled in detecting the presence of dead bodies. Two of these dogs have been trained in tactical support and one in blood detection.

Consideration is currently being given to a proposal to extend the Garda Dog Unit nationwide, on a regional basis. To this end a pilot, in the Southern Division (based in Cork and Limerick) has been completed. Following the evaluation of this pilot a decision on the further regionalisation of the Unit will be made. To date in 2007, the Garda National Drugs Unit has carried out a number of operations targeting the sale and supply of drugs at places of entertainment. It is not possible to give the costs associated with drug sniffer dogs only. However, the annual cost of running the Garda Dog Unit is approximately €1.5m.

As the Deputy will appreciate the optimum use of both the Customs Service and An Garda Síochána Dog Units is a matter for the Chairman of the Revenue Commissioners and the Garda Commissioner respectively in line with overall law enforcement arrangements and operational strategies.