Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 30 Jan 2002

Vol. 547 No. 1

Written Answers. - Garda Deployment.

Noel Ahern

Ceist:

999 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the strength of drug squads in the Dublin metropolitan area; if the squads are of equal size in each division; and if an additional squad is necessary for Dublin Airport or other places of importation. [2300/02]

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

I am informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources to individual areas, that the current number of personnel attached to drugs units in the Dublin metropolitan area is as follows:

Drug Units – Dublin Metropolitan Region

Division	Number (all ranks)
North	19
South	13
East	21
West	22
North Central	17
South Central	14
Total	106

I am further informed that local Garda management is satisfied that the arrangements in place are adequate to meet the current demands at Dublin Airport and that the drug unit based at Santry is actively engaged in the investigation and detection of drugs offences throughout the Ballymun sub-district.