Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
1212. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí by rank attached to each divisional drugs unit in tabular form; if any of these divisional drugs units received additional personnel in the past six months; if so, which division and the number of additional gardaí; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38824/23]
View answerI can assure the Deputy the Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and the 2023 Budget of over €2 billion is allowing for the continued recruitment of Garda members and staff, with Garda recruits entering Templemore regularly.
Overall, since 2015 there has been an almost 9% net increase in the number of Gardaí. These Gardaí are supported by around 3,140 Garda staff, which is over 56% more than the number of staff in 2015. This increases the availability of Gardaí to concentrate on frontline policing duties.
As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including the distribution and stationing of the Garda Síochána throughout the State. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions.
I understand that it is a matter for the Divisional Chief Superintendent to determine the optimum distribution of duties among the personnel available to them, having regard to the profile of each area within the Division and its specific needs.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that at the end of July 2023, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 330 Garda members assigned to Divisional Drugs Units nationwide. This represents an increase of almost 5% since the end of January 2023 when there were 315 Garda members assigned to these units.
The table below, which has been provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the total number of Garda members by rank assigned to each Divisional Drugs Unit at the end of July 2023, the latest date for when figures are available. Please note that this information is based upon operational data which has been provided by An Garda Síochána and may be liable to change.
|
National Drugs Units at 31.07.23 |
Garda |
Sergeant |
Inspector |
Total |
|
Cavan/Monaghan |
1 |
1 |
|
2 |
|
Clare |
2 |
1 |
|
3 |
|
Cork City |
15 |
2 |
|
17 |
|
Cork North |
6 |
2 |
|
8 |
|
Cork West |
6 |
1 |
|
7 |
|
D.M.R. East |
4 |
1 |
|
5 |
|
D.M.R. North |
21 |
4 |
|
25 |
|
D.M.R. North Central |
26 |
2 |
|
28 |
|
D.M.R. South |
20 |
3 |
|
23 |
|
D.M.R. South Central |
14 |
1 |
1 |
16 |
|
D.M.R. West |
22 |
2 |
|
24 |
|
Donegal |
4 |
1 |
|
5 |
|
Galway |
20 |
2 |
|
22 |
|
Kerry |
13 |
2 |
|
15 |
|
Kildare |
9 |
2 |
|
11 |
|
Kilkenny/Carlow |
9 |
1 |
|
10 |
|
Laois/Offaly |
0 |
0 |
|
0 |
|
Limerick |
17 |
3 |
1 |
21 |
|
Louth |
9 |
2 |
1 |
12 |
|
Mayo |
6 |
1 |
|
7 |
|
Meath |
4 |
1 |
1 |
6 |
|
Roscommon/Longford |
4 |
1 |
|
5 |
|
Sligo/Leitrim |
6 |
1 |
|
7 |
|
Tipperary |
10 |
1 |
|
11 |
|
Waterford |
13 |
3 |
|
16 |
|
Westmeath |
6 |
1 |
|
7 |
|
Wexford |
10 |
|
|
10 |
|
Wicklow |
6 |
1 |
|
7 |
|
Total |
283 |
43 |
4 |
330 |
The table below, which was provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the total number of Garda members assigned to each Garda Drugs Unit at the end of January 2023 and at the end of July 2023. Please note that this information is based upon operational data which has been provided by An Garda Síochána and may be liable to change.
|
Division |
Jan-23 |
Jul-23 |
|
Cavan/Monaghan |
2 |
2 |
|
Clare |
3 |
3 |
|
Cork City |
19 |
17 |
|
Cork North |
7 |
8 |
|
Cork West |
7 |
7 |
|
D.M.R. East |
6 |
5 |
|
D.M.R. North |
25 |
25 |
|
D.M.R. North Central |
29 |
28 |
|
D.M.R. South |
25 |
23 |
|
D.M.R. South Central |
14 |
16 |
|
D.M.R. West |
20 |
24 |
|
Donegal |
4 |
5 |
|
Galway |
10 |
22 |
|
Kerry |
15 |
15 |
|
Kildare |
12 |
11 |
|
Kilkenny/Carlow |
8 |
10 |
|
Laois/Offaly |
1 |
0 |
|
Limerick |
22 |
21 |
|
Louth |
11 |
12 |
|
Mayo |
7 |
7 |
|
Meath |
6 |
6 |
|
Roscommon/Longford |
4 |
5 |
|
Sligo/Leitrim |
7 |
7 |
|
Tipperary |
12 |
11 |
|
Waterford |
14 |
16 |
|
Westmeath |
7 |
7 |
|
Wexford |
11 |
10 |
|
Wicklow |
7 |
7 |
|
Total |
315 |
330 |
For the Deputy's information, detailed statistics on Garda workforce numbers are published on my Department's website and can be accessed using the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/bd777-an-garda-siochana-your-police-service-some-facts-and-figures/.
