Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 November 2017
480. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if there is a Garda armed response unit based in Ennis, County Clare; if not, his plans to locate one there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45777/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use is made of these resources.
I am advised by the Commissioner that the Armed Support Units (ASU) are regional resources, serving all the Garda Districts and Divisions in each of the six Garda Regions, including the Ennis District which is part of the Clare Division in the Western Region. These Regional ASU were established in order to provide an armed response capacity and capability in each Garda Region and in support of, and to supplement, the national Emergency Response Unit.
The ASUs are an overt armed support service and are deployed on a 24/7 basis, providing a high-visibility tactical armed response, including enhanced less lethal capability. Members of the ASUs are highly trained and equipped with a variety of non-lethal and lethal weapons and perform high visibility armed checkpoints and patrols throughout their respective Regions.
In the event of an armed incident or similar incident, armed Detective members from local District and Divisional Units will respond, as will the Regional ASU. Should the incident be escalated and further armed support be required the Emergency Response Unit is also available and they, too, are highly trained and especially equipped to respond to the most serious incident or terrorist threat.
