Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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262. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if consideration will be given to the establishment of the Garda dog unit on a regional basis in view of the importance of this unit in the search for drugs and related crimes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50901/18]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will appreciate the provision and allocation of resources for An Garda Síochána is a matter for the Garda Commissioner. As Minister, I have no direct role in the matter.

I have been advised by the Garda authorities that the Garda Dog Unit is based at Kilmainham Garda Station, in the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) and has a national remit. I am pleased to confirm that dog units have also been established in the Southern Region based at Togher Garda Station, Cork, and Henry Street Garda Station, Limerick.

I understand that facilities for a regional dog unit have also been included in the Western Region Garda Headquarters, Galway although no Garda dogs are currently based there.

I am informed that there are currently 25 dogs attached to the Garda Dog Unit, comprising general purpose (search), drugs and explosive detection dogs. Of these 20 dogs are located in the DMR, 2 in Cork and 3 in Limerick.