Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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125. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if the additional 25 members of An Garda Síochána recently announced for County Louth will be retained permanently in the county; and if not, the duration of their deployment in County Louth. [39832/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that the allocation of Garda resources, including personnel, is a matter for the Garda Commissioner, and that I as Minister have no direct role in the matter.

I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that the allocations of Gardaí is continually monitored to ensure optimal use of Garda human resources. This process is periodically reviewed in light of particular incidents of concern or challenges and it is in this context that the Commissioner has directed the allocation of additional Gardaí to the Louth Division.

I am advised that an additional 2 sergeants and 25 Gardaí have been allocated to the Louth Garda Division as an interim measure. These Gardaí have been transferred on a temporary basis from adjoining Garda Divisions and the Dublin Metropolitan Region to support the work of the 283 members of An Garda Síochána assigned to the Louth Division. Garda management will continue to keep the allocation of resources in Co Louth under continual review in the context of additional Gardai becoming available for assignment as a result of Garda recruitment, crime trends, demographics and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best use is made of Garda resources.

The work of local Gardaí in the Louth Division is augmented by a number of Garda national units such as the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NBCI), the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) and the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB). Organised criminal activity is currently being targeted by An Garda Síochána across a number of fronts, including the use of focused intelligence-led operations by specialist units such as the Drugs and Organised Crime Unit and CAB.