Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 November 2016
118. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide a breakdown of Garda members who are stationed in County Louth who have been assigned to the Garda national drug unit, for each of the years since 2011 in tabular form. [35641/16]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, including Community Gardaí, among the various Garda Divisions and Districts and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use is made of these resources.
I am further informed that the Garda strength of the Louth Division, on the 30 September 2016, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was 302. There are also 33 Garda Reserves and 23 civilians attached to the Division. It is important to note that all Gardaí have a responsibility in the prevention and detection of criminal activity whether it be in the area of drug offences or otherwise. The Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau leads out the policing strategy for tackling drugs supply. This approach allows for the co-ordinated use of Garda resources in tackling all forms of organised crime, including illicit drug activity nationwide.
I am further informed that the prevention and detection of drug related offences is a priority within the Louth Division and that all Gardaí in the Division, both uniform and detective, are engaged in intelligence-led policing and the undertaking of targeted operations against those involved in drug-related crime. In addition, Garda personnel from the Division continue to work with the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau in this regard.
This Government is committed to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and deter crime. To make this a reality for all, the Government has in place a plan to achieve an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021 comprising 15,000 Garda members, 2,000 Reserve members and 4,000 civilians. In 2017, funding has been provided for the recruitment of 800 Garda recruits and up to 500 civilians to support the wide ranging reform plan in train in An Garda Síochána. Appointments will also be made to the Garda Reserve of approximately 300.
Taking account of projected retirements, reaching a strength of 15,000 will require some 3,200 new Garda members to be recruited on a phased basis over the next four years in addition to the 1,200 that will have been recruited by the end of this year since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014. This is an ambitious target and will require a continuous pipeline of suitable candidates. I am pleased to say that the recruitment campaign launched by the Public Appointments Service on behalf of the Commissioner last September, the second campaign this year, again received a strong response.
Since the reopening of the Garda College, 683 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána, of whom 149 attested today Thursday, 17 November. I am informed that so far 23 of these probationer Garda have been assigned to the Louth Division. It is expected that prevention and detection of drug activities and all other Garda activities, will undoubtedly benefit from these resources now coming on stream.
Garda members who are assigned to the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau are based in Dublin and, as I have outlined, work with Garda personnel in the Louth Division as required. For the Deputy's information, the table below shows the number of Garda members who are stationed in County Louth and have been assigned to the Louth Division Drugs Unit, for each of the years since 2011 to 30 September 2016, the latest date for which figures are readily available.
|
Louth Division Drugs Unit Personnel |
||||
|
Year |
Inspector |
Sergeant |
Garda |
Total |
|
Dec 2011 |
0 |
1 |
5 |
6 |
|
Dec 2012 |
0 |
1 |
6 |
7 |
|
Dec 2013 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
6 |
|
Dec 2014 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
6 |
|
Dec 2015 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
6 |
|
Sept 2016 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
6 |
