Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
830. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to introduce an armed support unit in the Cavan and Monaghan Garda division; the location of the closest unit to the division at present; his plans to introduce a unit in the Border region due to Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33389/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps this distribution under review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities to ensure optimum use is made of the resources.
I am advised by the Commissioner that the Regional Armed Support Units (ASUs) are regional resources, serving all the Garda Districts and Divisions in each of the six Garda Regions, including the Northern Region which Cavan Monaghan forms part of. These Regional ASUs were established in order to provide an armed response capability in each Garda Region in addition to the national Emergency Response Unit.
The ASUs are deployed on a 24-7 basis and provide a high-visibility tactical armed response service. 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, armed Detective members from 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. The ERU are highly trained and especially equipped to respond to the most serious incident or terrorist threat.
