Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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305. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Gardaí currently assigned to the drugs unit in County Donegal; if she will provide a breakdown of the way these are assigned by district; and the number of Gardaí assigned to this unit in each of the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3679/15]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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314. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda personnel in each Garda station in County Donegal for the years 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and to date in 2015. [3745/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 305 and 314 together.

One of the primary functions of the Garda Commissioner under the Garda Síochána Acts, is to direct and control An Garda Síochána. The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel among the Garda Regions, Divisions, and Districts. Garda management keep this distribution under continuing review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of these resources.

Details regarding the personnel strength of each station in the Donegal Garda Division and the number of Gardaí assigned to the Donegal Divisional Drugs Unit are currently being collated and will be forwarded directly to the Deputy.

As identified in the National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016, drug law enforcement remains a key priority for An Garda Síochána and the Government as part of the overall comprehensive approach to tackling the problem of drug misuse.

I can assure the Deputy that An Garda Síochána continues to pro-actively and resolutely tackle all forms of drug crime. The Garda National Drugs Unit works closely with dedicated Divisional Drug Units and other national units, including the Organised Crime Unit and the Criminal Assets Bureau, in targeting persons involved in the illicit sale and supply of drugs. The Drugs Units are run on a Divisional and National basis and not by District.