Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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311. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of promotional positions waiting to be filled within An Garda Síochána; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58160/21]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), for the management and administration of Garda business. This includes responsibility for the promotion and appointment to certain ranks within An Garda Síochána under the Garda Síochána (Appointment to the Ranks of Inspector and Sergeant) Regulations 2021.

Promotion and appointment to the ranks of Superintendent, Chief Superintendent and Assistant Commissioner are governed by the Garda Síochána Act 2005 and fall under the remit of the Policing Authority. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions.

Appointment to the ranks of Deputy Commissioner and Commissioner are also governed by the Act and require the approval of Government.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that, as of 31 October 2021, the number of vacancies in An Garda Síochána at the ranks in question is indicated in the table.

The Deputy may wish to note that a competition for promotions and appointments to the rank of Sergeant is currently being carried out under the remit of the Public Appointments Service, following the introduction of new Regulations to modernise the promotion process for the ranks of Sergeant and Inspector. I am advised that a competition for the rank of Inspector is expected to commence in early 2022.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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312. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the degree to which the strength of criminal gangs continues to be monitored; if a noticeable change as to the degree of their activity has been seen; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58161/21]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The continued disruption of the supply of all illicit drugs remains a priority for An Garda Síochána and the other state agencies tasked with responsibilities in this regard. A concerted effort has been made over the past year to ensure that the detection and prevention of these types of criminal activity have not been adversely affected by the unprecedented demands placed on policing services by the vital enforcement of public health restrictions.

As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including Garda operations aimed at preventing and countering criminal activity, and the enforcement of legislation pertaining to illegal drugs. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.

The Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) is having significant success in disrupting drug trafficking and the supply of illicit drugs by organised crime groups. The Bureau’s work is supported by Divisional Drugs Units nationwide, and by all Gardaí working in local communities. GNDOCB also works closely and productively with international law enforcement partners. Gardaí continue to work closely with local authorities, HSE, NGOs, community groups and other state agencies to tackle the problems of drug addiction and abuse.

The Deputy may be aware that the Department of Health leads on Government policy in the area of drugs, and this policy is guided by the national drugs and alcohol strategy "Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery - a health led response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland 2017-2025". This strategy represents a whole-of-Government response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland. The implementation of the strategy is led by my colleague, the Minister for Health, however the strategy includes actions for all stakeholders, including my Department and An Garda Síochána.

The strategy recognises the need for a balanced health-led approach - reducing demand, while also reducing access to illegal drugs, and is aimed at reducing the number of people criminalised for the possession of drugs for personal use. While this strategy supports the vulnerable people who use drugs, it is also matched with strengthened enforcement measures across government to tackle the supply of illegal drugs. Sustained action by An Garda Síochána has continued unabated throughout the current pandemic, bringing significant convictions and ongoing seizures of drugs, firearms and ammunition.

I can inform the Deputy that on 2 July 2021, An Garda Síochána commenced an enhanced national anti-drugs strategy, Operation Tara, which has a strong focus on tackling street-level dealing throughout rural and urban Ireland. Operation Tara is focused on tackling street-level dealing throughout rural and urban Ireland. The focus of Operation Tara is to disrupt, dismantle and prosecute drug trafficking networks, at all levels - international, national and local - involved in the importation, distribution, cultivation, production, local sale and supply of controlled drugs.

Recent successes of Operation Tara include;

- Gardaí attached to the Divisional Drug Unit at Kevin Street Garda Station, with assistance from the Divisional Crime Task Force, conducted a search under warrant at a residence in Ringsend, Dublin 4 and seized €123,000 worth of controlled drugs on Friday 8th October 2021.

- As part of Operation Tara, Gardaí from Naas recovered cannabis herb worth €100,000 in the course of searching a stolen motor van in Allenwood, Co Kildare on the 9th October.

- Gardaí from the detective and drug units in Gorey and Enniscorthy, conducted a search of a residence in Bunclody and seized a combined €304,000 in cannabis and cocaine on Saturday, 23rd October 2021, approximately €100,000 of cannabis herb, €180,000 in cannabis resin and almost €24,000 worth of cocaine (subject to analysis) was located at the residence.

- Gardaí from Cork based Drugs Units have seized drugs worth €140,000 and arrested two males in the course of an operation in Cork on Thursday, 4th November 2021.

All drugs seized are subject to analysis by Forensic Science Ireland (FSI).

I am informed by the Courts Service that statistics relating to drug convictions, broken down by District and Circuit Court cases, are published each year in the Courts Service’s annual report and can be found on the Courts Service website, at www.courts.ie/annual-report.

I am further informed that membership of criminal gangs is not noted by the Courts Service during the course of criminal cases.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that, as of 18 November, the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) has made 151 arrests and has seized €51.84m in illicit drugs, 4 firearms, 55 rounds of ammunition and €5.1m in cash in 2021.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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313. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which juvenile liaison officers have been allocated to each Garda district throughout the country; the ongoing plans in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58163/21]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible under the law for the management and administration of Garda business, including matters relating to the deployment of Garda personnel. As Minister, I have no direct role in this process.

I am advised by the Garda Authorities that Garda Juvenile Liaison Officers (JLOs) are specially trained to fulfil a key role in implementing the Garda Diversion Programme. Their role includes the administration of formal and informal cautions as well as appropriate supervision of children who have been admitted to the Diversion Programme, as provided in Part 4 of the Children Act 2001. The below table, furnished to me by the Garda Authorities, details the number of JLOs allocated to each Division.

I am delighted that Budget 2022 includes funding for the recruitment of 800 new Garda recruits and 400 Garda staff in 2022 - a further additional 1,200 personnel, subject to the public health situation. This planned increase in the number of Garda members and staff is designed to deliver significant growth in operational policing hours nationwide and improved public safety and services to the public generally. Deployment of these resources is of course a matter for the Garda Commissioner.