Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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147. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí currently assigned to the drugs unit in counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16012/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for the management of An Garda Síochána, including the distribution of Garda 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 at 28 February 2022, the latest date for which figures are available, there were three Garda members assigned to the Cavan/Monaghan Drugs Unit.

I understand that overall, as of the same date, there are now 329 Garda personnel in Divisional Drugs Units assigned to tackle drug-related crime on a local basis throughout the country. This represents an increase of over 4% since 31 December 2021, when there were 315 Gardaí assigned to Divisional Drugs units nationwide.

These members are supported, as needed, by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, which has 84 Gardaí attached to it at 28 February 2022.

In the interest of transparency, 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 the Garda workforce, Garda staff and other Garda statistics are available from the following link:

www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/Garda_Workforce