Seán Kenny (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 306: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of handlers and dogs currently in the Irish Prison Service canine unit; if this number will be increased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39660/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Canine Unit was established within the Irish Prison Service in early 2008 and currently has 26 trained dog handlers and a compliment of 36 trained dogs consisting of 23 passive dogs, 3 active dogs and 10 patrol dogs. All dogs are housed in-house at purpose built kennels located at designated prisons throughout the country.

While it is not proposed to increase the number of handlers and dogs in the Prison Service Canine Unit in the short term, the Canine Unit does play a particularly important role in the prevention of contraband entering prisons. It is intended to maintain existing resource levels in the Canine Unit through a tender for the provision of dog handler training and trained dogs. This is currently being developed and the Irish Prison Service intend to publish the tender in the near future.