Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 December 2007
501 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he is considering making funding available for the purchase of a second x-ray machine for use in ports on trucks by customs officers to assist in their efforts to disrupt the supply of illegal drugs into Ireland. [35125/07]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn Garda Síochána has primary responsibility for the apprehension and arrest of persons suspected of smuggling or the illegal importation of controlled drugs. The Customs Service of the Revenue Commissioners has primary responsibility for the funding that is available for the purchase of x-ray machines for use in ports. The question of funding the purchase of additional x-ray machines is therefore a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Finance.
502 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of boats available to the Garda Síochána to assist their efforts to disrupt the supply of illegal drugs into Ireland. [35126/07]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the Garda Commissioner for a report on their deployment of boats, by An Garda Síochána in the context referred to by the Deputy and will communicate with him further when this is available. The equipment available to customs officers is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Finance. The Deputy will also be aware of the very significant role played by the Naval Service in the interdiction of drugs.
503 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of sniffer dogs available to customs officers to assist their efforts to disrupt the supply of illegal drugs into Ireland. [35127/07]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the National Drugs Strategy, the Customs Service of the Revenue Commissioners has primary responsibility for the prevention, detection, interception and seizure of controlled drugs intended to be smuggled into the State.
I would refer the Deputy to the answer I made available in respect of Parliamentary Question 34377/07 last week for further details on the matter.
504 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of sniffer dogs available to the Garda Síochána to assist their efforts to disrupt the supply of illegal drugs here. [35128/07]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda Dog Unit consists of 2 Sergeants and 14 Gardaí and currently has 26 dogs. Six of these dogs, two of which are based in the Southern Region, are skilled in drugs and firearms residue detection. There are also 14 general purpose dogs — skilled in public order duties, tracking for missing persons, criminals and articles contaminated by human scent; 5 dogs skilled in explosives detection; 1 dog skilled in detecting the presence of dead bodies. Two of these dogs have been trained in tactical support and one in blood detection.
Consideration is currently being given to a proposal to extend the Garda Dog Unit nationwide, on a regional basis. To this end a pilot, in the Southern Division (based in Cork and Limerick) has been completed. Following the evaluation of this pilot, a decision on the further regionalisation of the Unit will be made.
It is not possible to give the costs associated with drug sniffer dogs only. However, the annual cost of running the Garda Dog Unit is approximately €1.5m. In addition, I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that as part of its enforcement resources, the Customs Service currently deploys 13 detector dog teams. Under the National Drugs Strategy, the Customs Service of the Revenue Commissioners has primary responsibility for the prevention, detection, interception and seizure of controlled drugs intended to be smuggled into the State.
These detector dog teams are based at strategic locations throughout the State. All teams have passive dogs which allow for the screening of passengers as well as merchandise and baggage. As the illegal movement of cash is the life-blood of drug trafficking and organised crime, following the passing of the Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Act 2005, the Customs authorities introduced cash detection capability also and the Service now have a dedicated detector dog team in place for this purpose. There is a growing investment by Customs in drug detection resources and the Revenue Commissioners advise me that they regard the deployment of detector dogs as a very important part of this resource. The Commissioners also believe in ensuring that the detector dog teams maintain a high public visibility at the ports, airports, postal depots and freight forwarders' premises in which they routinely operate. The Customs detector dogs also assist An Garda Síochána, whenever requested to do so. The cost of the Customs detector dog programme in 2006 was €1,439,000.
