Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 July 2016
88. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of drug detection dogs available to An Garda Síochána; the location of such dogs; and her plans to deploy more drug detection dogs across the country. [19242/16]
View answerThe Deputy will appreciate that the provision and allocation of resources for An Garda Síochána is a matter for the Garda Commissioner and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda resources allocated throughout the country, together with the overall policing arrangements and operational strategies are continually monitored and reviewed. Such monitoring ensures that optimum use is made of Garda resources and the best possible Garda service is provided to the general public.
I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda Dog Units have a national remit and are based in the Dublin Metropolitan Region and the Southern Region. There are currently nineteen dogs attached to the Garda Dog Unit, comprising general purpose (search), drugs and explosive detection dogs. For security and operational reasons, An Garda Síochána have advised they cannot provide information in relation to the specific number of drug detection dogs and their locations.
