Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 843: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of sniffer dogs available to the Garda Síochána in areas (detail supplied) in County Dublin; the number of drug searches these dogs took part in from 2004 to date in 2008; the number of drug seizures they were involved in for the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11402/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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There are twenty eight dogs attached to the Garda Dog Unit, which is based in the Dublin Metropolitan Region but operates nationwide. The breakdown for operations in which the dogs are used is as follows:

In 2007, the Garda Dog Unit attended 543 drug-related incidents nationwide, while also available for general patrol duties, covert operations and assisting as a deterrent with public disorder incidents. The Garda Dog Unit also carried out checkpoint duties involving searches of vehicles and other security-related duties.

There are four Garda handlers, with eight dogs, four of which are specialised in drug detection designated for operational duties specifically in the Dublin Metropolitan Region.

The following table shows the number of Garda Dog Unit drug searches and seizures conducted in the Dublin Metropolitan Region each year between 2004 — 2008 :

With regard to the number of dogs currently deployed by the Revenue Customs Service, I understand that twelve detector dog teams are in operation with the following breakdown per region: