Vol. 475 No. 2
105 Mr. E. Walsh asked the Minister for Justice the plans, if any, she has to increase the resources of the Drug Squad and the Task Force in the Dublin area, to deal with the increasing demands being made on their expertise; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4647/97]
The Garda authorities are responsible for the allocation of Garda personnel and resources. I have been informed by them that the current strength of the National Drugs Unit based at the Dublin Metropolitan Area Headquarters is 38 members and that there are 67 members currently attached to the recently formed National Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Both of these units have a national responsibility — the National Drugs Unit for drug related matters and the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation for major crime. The strength of both units is subject to ongoing review by the Garda authorities.
In addition to the National Drugs Unit there are district-divisional drugs units operating in the Dublin Metropolitan Area. These local units liaise with the National Drugs Unit which in turn liaises with Interpol and Europol. There is a Garda inspector assigned permanently to the Europol drugs unit which is based in the Hague and he acts as this country's liaison officer with other member states of the European Union in relation to drugs trafficking and other related matters. While these units provide an essential specialist response the enforcement of the law, in all respects, including the area of drugs and major crime, is a matter for all members of the force in the course of their normal duties.
The Deputy will be aware that Operation Dóchas came into effect in the DMA on 7 October 1996. I understand from the Garda authorities that it continues to operate with success. The policing arrangements in the Dublin Metropolitan Area, including those relating to drugenforcement, are kept under continuous review by the Garda authorities and any adjustments made as necessary.
