Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2017
600. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí and civilian staff assigned to and working with the Garda special crime task force when it was first set up; the number of gardaí and civilian staff now assigned to and working with the task force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37579/17]
View answer610. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí in the Garda special crime task force; the number of gardaí in the task force when it was originally set up; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37777/17]
View answer670. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí allocated to each Garda special crime task force in each of the past five years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38645/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 600, 610 and 670 together.
As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources among the various Garda Divisions and Districts and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. I am assured by the Commissioner that personnel assigned throughout the country, together with the overall policing arrangements and operational strategies are continually monitored and reviewed.
As part of the range of measures which have been put in place to tackle organised crime a new Garda Special Crime Task Force (SCTF) has been in operation in the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) since July 2016 and is focussing relentlessly on persons involved in organised criminal activities. It operates in cooperation with other agencies including the Revenue Commissioners and Department of Social Protection and has the benefit of the expertise of members of the Criminal Assets Bureau, Garda Divisional Asset Profilers, and the Garda Síochána Analysis Service. It is under the direction of Detective Chief Superintendent, Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (DOCB) under the remit of Assistant Commissioner, Special Crime Operations.
I am informed that the SCTF initially comprised 6 Sergeants and 30 Gardaí, with 1 Sergeant and 5 Gardaí seconded from each of the Divisions in the DMR. There are currently 5 Sergeants and 45 Gardaí assigned to the SCTF.
I am further informed that the SCTF has led significant and high profile operations and arrests associated with seizures of firearms, drugs, explosives and significant financial assets. In addition, critical intelligence led operations and investigations were implemented to ensure the preservation of life within the DMR. The SCTF has repeatedly proven its resilience and capacity for deployment and is ideally placed for redeployment to any Regional policing priority which may emerge.
The current threat level arising from organised crime groups in the DMR has not dissipated, although it has been significantly impeded. The consistent targeting of these sophisticated groups is essential to dismantle them, ensuring safe communities and a strong policing capacity.
I am advised by the Commissioner that a competition to fill vacancies for Sergeants and Gardaí at the Units comprising Special Crime Operations was completed at the end of 2016 and additional Sergeants and Gardaí are being allocated to these Units, including the DOCB, incorporating the SCTF, on a phased basis, most recently in August, with a further tranche following the next attestation of new Gardaí to take place later this year. The capacity of Garda management to allocate additional resources to specialist units is a result of the significant investment in personnel to which the Government is committed under its Five Year Reform and High Level Workforce Plan for An Garda Síochána. In relation to civilian staff I am advised by the Commissioner that the appointment of professional / expert non-Garda personnel to positions within Special Crime Operations is being examined in the context of the extensive reform programme underway within An Garda Siochána.
