Vol. 553 No. 5
337 Mr. O'Dowd asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if more gardaí have been deployed in local drugs task force areas as was laid out in the national drugs strategy, which was to be met by the end of 2001. [14561/02]
All members of the Garda Síochána are charged with enforcing the law on drugs misuse. In addition, specialised drugs units operate in divisions throughout the country with a primary focus on local drugs activities. The Garda national drugs unit co-ordinates large-scale operations against those involved in drug dealing-trafficking and unit personnel either investigate such cases themselves or assist local Garda investigation teams. Additional assistance is also available from other specialised Garda support units, as necessary, such as the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Criminal Assets Bureau.
The allocation of specific resources is a matter for the Garda Commissioner having regard to various policing demands, including those arising from the problem of drugs misuse. I am informed by the Garda authorities that, since the publication of the national drugs strategy, there has been a moderate increase in Garda manpower in a significant number of stations, including in existing local drugs task force areas. However, I am also informed that the Garda authorities have established a high level internal implementation group tasked with examining all of the actions in the national drugs strategy and their implications, including those for Garda resources. In carrying out that ongoing examination, the Garda authorities will have due regard for the commitments in the programme for government to complete the current expansion of the Garda Síochána and to increase recruitment so that the numbers will increase by a further 2,000 over the next five years. It is the Government's intention that those additional members will be targeted at areas of greatest need, especially areas experiencing a significant drugs problem and a large number of public order offences.
