Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 January 2022
502. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí by rank attached to the Garda national drugs and organised crime bureau as of 1 January 2020, 1 January 2021 and 17 January 2022, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3420/22]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes responsibility for personnel matters and the deployment of Garda members. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters. I understand however that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities, to ensure their optimum use.
The Deputy will also be aware that all Gardaí have a responsibility in the prevention and detection of criminal activity, whether it be in the area of drug offences, related crime or otherwise. I can assure the Deputy that An Garda Síochána continues to pro-actively and resolutely tackle all forms of drug crime in this jurisdiction.
In 2015, the Garda Commissioner established a new Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB), which brought together the Organised Crime Unit and the Garda National Drug Unit so as to create a robust entity to effectively tackle drugs and organised crime.
The GNDOCB leads on the policing strategy for tackling drugs by demand reduction and supply reduction strategies. In this regard, the Bureau continues its policy of working with Garda Divisional Drug Units nationwide in tackling supply reduction at local level. This work is further supported by other national units, including the Criminal Assets Bureau, in targeting persons involved in the illicit sale and supply of drugs. I am informed that this approach allows for the coordinated use of Garda resources in tackling all forms of organised crime, including illicit drug activity nationwide.
We have also seen unprecedented international cooperation between An Garda Síochána and police services in other jurisdictions leading to important arrests and drug seizures.
For the Deputy's information, the table below, supplied to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of Gardaí by rank attached to the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau as of 1 January 2020, 1 January 2021 and 1 January 2022.
|
Year |
Garda |
Sergeant |
Inspector |
Superintendent |
Chief Superintendent |
Total |
|
01-Jan-20 |
84 |
11 |
4 |
3 |
1 |
103 |
|
01-Jan-21 |
81 |
8 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
95 |
|
01-Jan-22 |
79 |
8 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
92 |
