I can inform the Deputy that senior management from both An Garda Síochána and my Department report directly on an ongoing basis to my colleague Minister of State, Mr. Noel Ahern T.D. at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs in relation to the implementation of the recommendations contained in the recent joint report of the National Advisory Committee on Drugs and National Drug Strategy Team to which she refers.
As the Deputy will appreciate, policing operations and the deployment of Garda resources are matters for the Garda authorities. It is the responsibility of Garda management to allocate personnel to and within divisions on a priority basis in accordance with overall policing requirements.
In December, 2006, as part of a package of anti-crime measures, I secured Government approval for the continuation of the existing Garda recruitment programme to achieve a total Garda strength of 15,000.
Additional Garda resources are coming on stream all the time, with an accelerated intake of approximately 1100 new recruits per annum into the Garda College which will continue until the target of 15,000 is met.
These additional resources will facilitate the Garda Commissioner in the allocation of additional manpower to areas most in need, including areas with a significant drug problem.
