Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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269. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí assigned to the drugs unit in the R district of the Dublin metropolitan region north division in each of the years 2017, 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form. [49843/19]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The Garda Commissioner is statutorily responsible for the management of An Garda Síochána, including personnel matters and deployment of resources. As Minister, I have no responsibility for these matters. Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use is made of resources.

As the Deputies will be aware, a record €1.76 billion was allocated to the Garda Vote for 2019, as well as capital investment amounting to €92 million this year. I am pleased to have secured an overall increase of €122 million to increase An Garda Síochána's budget for 2020 to an unprecedented €1.882 billion for next year.

I have been informed by the Commissioner that the additional resources coming on stream have enabled him to assign resources to Specialist Bureaus such as the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau. This Bureau leads on the strategy for tackling drugs and works with Garda Divisional Drug Units nationwide in demand reduction and supply reduction at local level.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the attached spreadsheet outlines the number of Gardaí assigned to Coolock (R) District Drugs Unit for the period specified by the Deputy.

I am further informed that it is anticipated to hold a competition in 2020 to fill vacancies in the Coolock District Drugs Unit. Garda management informs me that the number of personnel that will be allocated to the Drugs Unit will be considered in conjunction with the current strength levels at the appropriate time, in addition to the overall policing demands of the Coolock District.

More generally, the Deputy may wish to know that as of 31 October 2019 there were 223 Garda members assigned to the Coolock District and 19 Garda staff. I can confirm that 117 Garda members are assigned to Coolock Garda Station, supported by 16 Garda staff members.

The following table outlines the number of personnel in the Coolock District Drugs Unit for the years 2017, 2018 and 2019 to date.