Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 67: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has had discussions with officials of the Department of Finance or with the Garda Commissioner with a view to making additional resources available to the fraud squad in view of the many banking scandals that have recently come to light. [7573/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that resource levels at the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation are constantly monitored by Garda Management, taking into account crime trends and competing demands. These are kept under review to ensure that optimum use is made of Garda resources and the best possible service is provided to the public. In addition, there are currently one Detective Inspector, two Detective Sergeants, and five Detective Garda seconded from the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation to the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement under the provisions of the Company Law Enforcement Act 2001 to assist in investigations being conducted by the Director who has a statutory remit in the enforcement of the Companies Acts.

There are regular discussions between my Department and officials of the Department of Finance in relation to Garda resources generally and specifically in relation to the overall strength of the Force, and it is a matter for the Garda Commissioner to allocate these resources in the most optimum manner. While Garda management at the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation is satisfied with the service being provided by the Bureau, I am advised by the Garda Commissioner that a competition for the allocation of additional personnel to the Bureau is currently under way with personnel expected to be allocated in the near future.