Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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411. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the estimated full-year cost of providing an additional detective sergeant and detective inspector to each Garda divisional drugs unit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7602/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including all human resource matters and recruitment. As Minister for Justice, I have no role in such matters.

I have contacted the Garda authorities and have been advised that the estimated annual payroll cost of one detective inspector and one detective sergeant is approximately €166,000. This includes the estimated cost of salary, fixed allowances and employer’s PRSI.

Salaries are estimated using the midpoint of the current relevant Garda salary scales. There may be additional costs for unsocial hours and any potential overtime payments in excess of standard briefing time are not included.

Future pension costs and non-pay related costs are not included in the estimated figures.

Following a review of the Garda Operating Model undertaken by the Garda Commissioner, there will be 21 Divisions going forward. Therefore the total estimated cost would be approximately €3,486,000 to provide an additional Detective Sergeant and Detective Inspector to each of these 21 Division's Drugs Unit.

I am further advised by the Garda authorities that at the end of December 2023, the latest date for when figures are available, there were 326 Garda members assigned to Divisional Drugs Units nationwide, this includes 278 Gardaí, 42 Sergeants and 6 Inspectors. This represents an increase of 41% since the end of December 2019 when there were 231 Garda members assigned to these units.

For the Deputy's information, detailed statistics on Garda workforce numbers are published on my Department's website and can be accessed using the following link:

www.gov.ie/en/publication/bd777-an-garda-siochana-your-police-service-some-facts-and-figures/

Please note that this information is based upon operational data which has been provided by An Garda Síochána and may be liable to change.