Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 June 2019
124. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí assigned to the drugs unit in the R district of the Dublin metropolitan region north division in each of the years 2017, 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form. [24395/19]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is statutorily responsible for the management of An Garda Síochána, including personnel matters, and I, as Minister, do not have responsibility for this matter. Garda management keeps the 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 resources.
I have been informed by the Commissioner that the additional resources coming on stream have enabled him to assign resources to Specialist Bureaus such as the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau. This Bureau leads on the strategy for tackling drugs and works with Garda Divisional Drug Units nationwide in demand reduction and supply reduction at local level.
An Garda Síochána remains resolute in its determination to act against those within society who pose a significant threat to the welfare and well-being of our citizens and the communities they serve. All Gardaí have a responsibility in the prevention and detection of criminal activity whether it be in the area of drug offences crime or otherwise. A core focus of the work carried out by An Garda Síochána is aimed at tackling drugs and organised crime.
I am informed by the Commissioner that the information requested by the Deputy is not readily available in the format requested, as Drugs Unit Personnel are assigned on a Garda Divisional basis.
For the Deputy's information, I have set out in the table the number of Gardaí attached to the DMR North Drugs Unit in 2017, 2018 and as of 30 April 2019 (the latest date for which figures are readily available), as provided by the Commissioner.
DRUGS UNIT DMR NORTH 2017 to 30 APRIL 2019
|
YEAR |
TOTAL |
|
2017 |
19 |
|
2018 |
19 |
|
2019* |
19 |
For more general information on Garda Facts and Figures please see the following link:
http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/An_Garda_Siochana_facts_and_figures
