Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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217. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí attached to the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau as of 1 January 2017 and 1 November 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47965/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and Units and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. I am assured by the Garda Commissioner that the allocation of Gardaí is continually monitored and reviewed taking into account all relevant factors including crime trends, demographics, and security assessments so as to ensure optimal use is made of Garda human resources.

In 2015 the Commissioner, established a new national Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GDOCB), which brought together the Organised Crime Unit and the Garda National Drug Unit so as to create a robust entity to effectively tackle drugs and organised crime, as it currently exists in this country. This approach allows for the co-ordinated use of Garda resources in tackling all forms of organised crime.

I am advised by the Commissioner that a competition to fill vacancies for Sergeants and Gardaí in the Units comprising Special Crime Operations was completed at the end of 2016 and additional Sergeants and Gardaí are being allocated to these Units, on a phased basis, most recently in August, when an additional 3 Gardaí and 1 Sergeant were assigned to the GDOCB.  

I am informed by the Commissioner that strength of the GDOCB on 31 December 2016 and on 30 September 2017, the latest date for which figures are currently available was 107 and 110 respectively.