Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 February 2024
471. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide a breakdown of the number of gardaí allocated to Carlow and Kilkenny in each of the past five years; how they have been deployed in each county; and her views on the overall level of crime in each county and in particular drug-related crime. [6525/24]
View answerAs 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, as well as for decisions on the deployment of personnel among the various Garda Divisions. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.
I am however assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review, in the context of crime trends and policing priorities.
The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to fight crime. The 2024 allocation provides a budget of over €2.35 billion to An Garda Síochána – this is a 25% increase since 2020. This unprecedented budget will strengthen the work of An Garda Síochána and the criminal justice sector to prevent and detect crime and protect communities.
There are currently around 14,000 Garda members across the country. This represents an increase of around 9% since 2015. As the Deputy may be aware, 388 new Gardaí attested in 2023 and were allocated to Garda stations nationwide. The Deputy may also be interested to know that 746 trainee Gardaí entered Templemore in 2023, the highest number to enter Templemore since 2018.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that at the end of December 2023, the latest date for when figures are available, there are 312 Garda members assigned to the Kilkenny/Carlow Division. As of the same date there were 7 Garda members assigned to the Drugs unit in the Division which represents an increase of 40% since the end of December 2019.
Furthermore, the information in the attachment below sets out the number of Garda members assigned to the Kilkenny/Carlow Division at the end of December 2019 up to the end of December 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.
Tackling drug dealing and associated criminal activity, including by organised crime groups and by members of the public who, through their drug-taking fuel this illegal and very harmful trade, is a top priority for An Garda Síochána and the Government.
The record budgetary resources allocated to An Garda Síochána in recent years have enabled the Garda Commissioner to assign extra resources to the specialist units involved in tackling organised crime, including the Armed Support Unit, GNDOCB, the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB).
The Garda Commissioner has also tasked an Inspector in every Garda Division to respond to the issue of drug-related intimidation. There are currently 30 nominated Garda Inspectors appointed to act as liaison officers for the Drug-Related Intimidation Reporting Programme, covering each Garda Division.
At a local level, An Garda Síochána continues to target those involved in the sale and supply of illegal drugs through Operation Tara. Operation Tara, which has a strong focus on tackling street-level dealing across the country, also seeks to disrupt and dismantle the drug trafficking networks that impact on our communities and prosecuting those involved, at every level.
Recent successes of Operation Tara include the seizure of drugs with an estimated street value in excess of €80,000 in Dublin 15 on the 16 January 2024, €500,000 worth of drugs in County Kildare on 5 January, and €235,000 worth of heroin seized in Dublin and Meath on 3 January.
These large seizures demonstrate the close cooperation between Gardaí and partner services to interrupt the supply of illegal drugs into and throughout the country.
The Deputy may also be aware that the Department of Health leads on Government policy in the area of drugs, and this policy is guided by the national drugs and alcohol strategy "Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery - a health-led response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland 2017-2025 ". This strategy represents a whole-of-Government response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland.
The implementation of the strategy is led by the Minister for Health and the Minister of State with responsibility for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy. However, the strategy includes actions for all stakeholders, including my Department and An Garda Síochána.
The strategy recognises the need for a balanced health-led approach - reducing demand, while also reducing access to illegal drugs - and is aimed at reducing the number of people criminalised for the possession of drugs for personal use. While this strategy supports vulnerable people who use drugs, it is also matched with strengthened enforcement measures across Government to tackle the supply of illegal drugs.
I am informed that there are a number of Garda Operations taking place in the Kilkenny/Carlow Division to deter Crime. These include:
• Operation Heed: a Drug Initiative focusing on GAA clubs around both Counties where events are planned with Guest Speakers and open discussions are held on the dangers associated with drug taking.
• Operation Thor: targeting Criminals engaged in Burglaries.
• Operation Táirge: targets persons engaged in Retail Theft.
I am advised that Joint Policing Committees operate in the Division which provide a forum for local communities and local representatives to raise issues of concern which require action by An Garda Síochána. I am further advised that there is ongoing engagement between Carlow Gardaí and the Carlow Age Friendly Alliance which gives crime prevention to the Elderly.
Reported crime statistics for all crime types are publically available from the CSO at Garda Divisional level from quarter 1 of 2003 to quarter 3 of 2023 at the following link: www.data.cso.ie/table/CJQ06.
