Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 17 Oct 2001

Vol. 542 No. 3

Written Answers. - Garda Drug Units.

Jack Wall

Ceist:

168 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí assigned solely to drug abuse or illegal sale of drugs for each Garda division for 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24470/01]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

The Garda authorities have informed me that the numbers of gardaí assigned to divisional drug units in December, 2000 was as follows:

Garda Síochána Division	Members attached toDivisional Drug Units
DMR South Central	13
DMR South	15
DMR North Central	17
DMR North	19
DMR East	16
DMR West	20
Carlow/Kildare	See footnote 1
Cavan/Monaghan	14
Clare	4See footnote 2
Cork City	14
Cork West
Cork North	See footnote 3
Donegal	13
Galway (West)	27
Kerry	4
Laois/Offaly	6
Limerick	7
Longford/Westmeath	9
Louth/Meath	See footnote 4
Mayo	See footnote 2
Roscommon/Galway East	4See footnote 2
Sligo Leitrim	8
Tipperary	2
Waterford/Kilkenny	7
Wexford	See footnote 5

1. Six members were employed almost exclusively on drug related issues.

2. The Galway west unit is a regional unit and covers Mayo, Roscommon/Galway East and Clare.

3. Drug prevention and detection was the responsibility of the detective branch which consisted of 13 gardaí.

4. Twelve members were employed almost exclusively on drug duties. They formed part of drug/crime units.

5. Two uniform members worked almost full time on drug related issues supplemented by the local detective branch.

In addition, the garda national drugs unit comprised 45 gardaí.