Johnny Mythen (Wexford, Sinn Fein)
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349. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí by rank attached to the Wexford Garda division drugs unit as of 31 December 2018 and 15 May 2020, in tabular form. [7629/20]

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

In relation to the specific location referred to by the Deputy, I am informed by the Garda authorities that there were 5 Gardaí assigned to the Wexford Divisional Drugs Unit at 31 December 2018. I am further informed that as at 30 April 2020, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 8 Gardaí assigned to the Wexford Divisional Drugs Unit.

I understand that overall, there are now 278 Garda personnel in Divisional Drugs Units as of 30 April 2020, assigned to tackle drug related crime on a local basis throughout the country supported, as needed, by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau which has 89 Gardaí attached to it as of 30 April 2020.

More generally, the Deputy may wish to be aware that the resources provided to An Garda Síochána have reached unprecedented levels, with an allocation for 2020 of €1.88 billion. This level of funding is enabling sustained, ongoing recruitment of Garda members and staff and as a result, An Garda Síochána is a growing organisation. There are now over 14,700 Gardaí nationwide, supported by over 3,000 Garda staff and these numbers are continuing to grow. Taken together, this increase in the number of Garda members and staff is delivering a significant increase in operational policing hours nationwide.

A detailed breakdown of Garda numbers is available on my Department’s website. This information is updated every month with the latest data provided by An Garda Síochána. Information on Garda staff, the Garda Workforce and other facts and figures are available from the following links: