Tuesday, 24 Jul 2018

Written Answers Nos. 1119-1138

Garda Stations

Ceisteanna (1119)

Gerry Adams

Ceist:

1119. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda stations in the Louth Garda division that had access to broadband in each year since 2009. [34842/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

As the Deputy will appreciate decisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda resources including ICT resources are a matter for the Garda Commissioner in light of his identified operational demands and the availability of resources and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter.

I have asked the Garda Commissioner for the specific information requested and when it is to hand I will inform the Deputy accordingly.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A

I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 1119 for answer on 24 July 2018, in which the Deputy requested the number of Garda stations in the Louth Division that had access to broadband in each year since 2009.

The Deputy will recall, the information he requested could not be obtained in the time available, and I undertook to contact him again when the information was to hand.

The Deputy will appreciate that the Garda Commissioner is primarily responsible for the effective and efficient use of the resources available to An Garda Síochána. Further, decisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda equipment and resources, including ICT resources and the networking of Garda stations, are matters for the Garda Commissioner in light of availability of resources and his identified operational demands. As Minister, I have no direct role in the matter.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that broadband networks and services are used to connect stations to the Garda network for official purposes. All of the connections to the Garda stations are managed in Telecommunications Division to ensure the speed of the network connection meets the requirements of the particular location.

I am further informed by the Garda authorities that there are 13 Garda stations in the Louth Division. I understand that to provide details by year would be a voluminous task and would require a manual check of billing for a ten-year period.

However, the Garda authorities have confirmed that 9 stations were connected to the Garda network in the Louth Division as of 2014. 4 additional stations in the Division have been connected to the Garda network since that time. As such, the Garda authorities have confirmed all 13 stations in the Louth Division are now connected to the Garda network.

I trust this information is of assistance.

Garda Stations

Ceisteanna (1120)

Gerry Adams

Ceist:

1120. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda stations in the Louth Garda division that had access to high-speed broadband in each year since 2009. [34843/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

As the Deputy will appreciate, decisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda resources including ICT resources are a matter for the Garda Commissioner in light of his identified operational demands and the availability of resources.  As Minister, I have no direct role in the matter.

I have asked the Garda Commissioner for the specific information requested however, bearing in mind that the information requested covers a number of stations over a 9 year period, it was not possible to provide the information in the time available. I will write to the Deputy when the information is to hand.

Garda Stations

Ceisteanna (1121)

Martin Kenny

Ceist:

1121. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda stations open in the Sligo-Leitrim Garda division in each year since 2009; and the name of each. [34844/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

The Deputy will appreciate that the Garda Commissioner is primarily responsible for the effective and efficient use of the resources available to An Garda Síochána, including responsibility for the formulation of proposals in relation to the opening and closing of Garda stations, taking into account crime trends and policing priorities, to ensure that the best possible use is made of these resources.  Further, the programme of replacement and refurbishment of Garda accommodation is progressed by the Garda authorities working in close cooperation with the Office of Public Works, which has responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation.  As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda estate currently includes 565 Garda Stations, following the official opening of the new Western Region Headquarters, Galway in July 2018.

I am further informed by the Garda authorities that the Sligo/Leitrim Garda Division currently comprises 18 Garda Stations as follows: Ballinamore, Ballymote, Carrick-on-Shannon, Carrigallen, Colloney, Coolaney, Drumshambo, Enniscrone, Grange, Gurteen, Kinlough, Manorhamilton, Mohill, Riverstown, Rosses Point, Skreen, Sligo and Tubbercurry.

I understand from the Garda authorities that during the period identified by the Deputy, 12 Garda Stations were closed in the Sligo/Leitrim Division.  The Garda District and Station Rationalisation Programme developed and implemented in 2012 and 2013 resulted in the closure of some 139 Garda stations nationwide including the following 12 stations in Sligo/Leitrim Division: Bunanadden, Drumkeeran and Kiltyclogher (closed in 2012) and stations at Aclare, Ballyfarnon, Cliffoney, Cloone, Dromahair, Dromod, Easkey, Glenfarne and Keshcarrigan (closed in 2013).

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the closures implemented under the rationalisation programme allowed front line Garda to be managed and deployed with greater mobility, greater flexibility and in a more focused fashion, particularly with regard to targeted police operations.

Garda Stations

Ceisteanna (1122)

Martin Kenny

Ceist:

1122. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda stations in the Sligo-Leitrim Garda division that had access to broadband in each year since 2009. [34845/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

As the Deputy will appreciate decisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda resources including ICT resources are a matter for the Garda Commissioner in light of his identified operational demands and the availability of resources and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter.

I have asked the Garda Commissioner for the specific information requested and when it is to hand I will inform the Deputy accordingly.

Garda Stations

Ceisteanna (1123)

Martin Kenny

Ceist:

1123. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda stations in the Sligo-Leitrim Garda division that had access to high-speed broadband in each year since 2009. [34846/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

As the Deputy will appreciate decisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda resources including ICT resources are a matter for the Garda Commissioner in light of his identified operational demands and the availability of resources and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter.

I have asked the Garda Commissioner for the specific information requested and when it is to hand I will inform the Deputy accordingly.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A

I refer to Parliamentary Questions No.1122 and 1123 for answer on 24 July 2018, in which the Deputy requested the number of Garda stations in the Sligo/Leitrim Division that had access to broadband in each year since 2009.

As the Deputy will recall, the information he requested could not be obtained in the time available, and I undertook to contact him again when the information was to hand.

The Deputy will appreciate that the Garda Commissioner is primarily responsible for the effective and efficient use of the resources available to An Garda Síochána. Further, decisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda equipment and resources, including ICT resources and the networking of Garda stations, are matters for the Garda Commissioner in light of availability of resources and his identified operational demands. As Minister, I have no direct role in the matter.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that broadband networks and services are used to connect stations to the Garda network for official purposes. All of the connections to the Garda stations are managed in Telecommunications Division to ensure the speed of the network connection meets the requirements of the particular location.

I am further informed by the Garda authorities that as of 20 November, there are 18 Garda stations in the Sligo/Leitrim Division. I understand that to provide details by year would be a voluminous task and would require a manual check of billing for a ten-year period.

However, the Garda authorities have confirmed that as of 2014 there were 10 Garda Stations in the Sligo/Leitrim Division connected to the Garda network. Since that time a further 5 have been connected to the Garda network. This leaves 3 Garda stations in the Sligo/Leitrim Division which are currently not networked.

I am informed by An Garda Síochána that any member attached to a currently unconnected station can access PULSE at their local district station. Members in non-networked locations can also contact the Garda Information Services Centre (GISC) or an associated networked station if required.

I have further been advised by the Garda authorities that options for providing members attached to the remaining stations not yet networked with local access to Garda ICT services are actively being explored. This includes an assessment of the availability or otherwise of local broadband services and/or the provision of mobile technology.

I trust this information is of assistance.

Garda Deployment

Ceisteanna (1124)

Dessie Ellis

Ceist:

1124. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí in the national drugs unit in each of the years 2015 to 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form; the number of gardaí working in the local drugs units in the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34850/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

As 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.

As the Deputy will be aware all Gardaí have a responsibility in the prevention and detection of criminal activity whether it be in the area of drug offences, crime or otherwise.  I can assure the Deputy that An Garda Síochána continues to pro-actively and resolutely tackle all forms of drug crime in this jurisdiction.

In 2015 the Commissioner, established a new national Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GDOCB), which brought together the Organised Crime Unit and the Garda National Drug Unit so as to create a robust entity to effectively tackle drugs and organised crime, as it currently exists in this country.

The GDOCB leads out the policing strategy for tackling drugs by demand reduction and supply reduction strategies. In this regard the Bureau continues its policy of working with Garda Divisional Drug Units nationwide in tackling supply reduction at local level. This work is further supported by other national units, including the Criminal Assets Bureau, in targeting persons involved in the illicit sale and supply of drugs. I am informed that this approach allows for the co-ordinated use of Garda resources in tackling all forms of organised crime, including illicit drug activity nationwide.

We have also seen unprecedented international cooperation between An Garda Síochána and policing services in other jurisdictions leading to important arrests and drug seizures.

Underpinning all these measures is this Government’s commitment to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and deter crime. To achieve this the Government has put in place a plan for an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021 comprising 15,000 Garda members, 2,000 Reserve members and 4,000 civilians. We are making real, tangible progress on achieving this goal.

The moratorium on recruitment introduced in 2010 resulted in a significant reduction in the strength of An Garda Síochána. We are now rebuilding the organisation and providing the Commissioner with the resources needed to deploy increasing numbers of Gardaí across the organisation, including the Divisional Drugs Units, as new Garda recruits come on stream.

I am informed by the Commissioner that since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014, almost 2,000 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream duties nationwide. Garda numbers, taking account of retirements, increased to 13,551 at the end of 2017 – a net increase of over 600 since the end of 2016.

This focus on investment in personnel is critical and I am pleased that funding is in place to maintain this high level of investment in the Garda workforce to ensure that the overall vision for 2021 remains on track.

For the Deputy's information, the following tables, as supplied by the Commissioner, sets out the latest figures as requested.

Drugs Unit Personnel 2015-2018*

Year	Total
2015	258
2016	256
2017	236
2018*	223

* As of 31 May 2018

Garda assigned to the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau 2015-2018*

Year	Total
2015	107
2016	105
2017	114
2018*	114

* As of 31 May 2018

Garda Expenditure

Ceisteanna (1125)

Dessie Ellis

Ceist:

1125. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the annual cost of the national drugs unit in each of the years 2015 to 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form; the annual cost of each local drugs unit by area in the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34851/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

There has been unprecedented investment in An Garda Síochána in recent years, in support of the Government’s commitment to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement and provide reassurance to citizens and deter crime. Some €1.65 billion has been allocated to the Garda Vote for 2018, which represents an increase of approximately 2% over the allocation for 2017.

The Deputy will appreciate that the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the effective and efficient use of these resources made available to An Garda Síochána; and for the allocation and management of Garda resources, having due regard to his operational needs. As Minister, I have no role in that matter.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the expenditure for the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau during the period requested was as follows:

2015: €8,323,575

2016: €12,600,597

2017: €14,848,315

2018* (January-June): €7,391,093

I am informed by the Garda authorities that it is not possible to provide costings for local drug units by area.

Legislative Programme

Ceisteanna (1126)

Brendan Smith

Ceist:

1126. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress to date in implementing legislative measures as required under the 2014 Stormont House Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34879/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that work is at an advanced stage on legislative measures that will contribute to delivery on the Government's commitments in relation to the framework of initiatives to address the legacy of the troubles agreed in the 2014 Stormont House Agreement.

In November 2017 the Government approved the drafting of the Criminal Justice (International Cooperation) Bill.  This Bill will further facilitate cooperation with the Historical Investigations Unit (HIU), which is to be established by the British Government to investigate unsolved troubles related killings, and other inquiry mechanisms.  It should be noted that the Authorities here are already in a position to cooperate with the HIU, once established, in its criminal investigations through existing mutual legal assistance arrangements.  In addition, the Bill will provide for measures to further enhance ongoing cooperation with the Northern Ireland Coroner in troubles-related inquests.  The general scheme of the Bill is available on my Department's webpage and drafting is at a very advanced stage.  I expect to bring the Bill before the Oireachtas early in the new term. 

My Department, with close cooperation from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, is also finalising a General Scheme for a Bill to establish the Independent Commission on Information Retrieval (ICIR).  The ICIR will be a cross-border institution which will be established to receive information on troubles-related deaths and to prepare a report on the circumstances of the death for the families of the victims.  The ICIR will require legislation to be enacted in both jurisdictions.  I expect to seek the approval of the Government to draft this legislation early in the new term.

Dealing with the legacy of the troubles on this island is a difficult and complex task. The Government remains fully committed to giving effect to the measures agreed in the Stormont House Agreement.  While the political impasse in Northern Ireland has delayed the roll-out of these measures, the Government will continue to work with the British Government and the parties in Northern Ireland to seek the re-establishment of the Executive.

Crime Levels

Ceisteanna (1127)

Gerry Adams

Ceist:

1127. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the length of time the categorisation of recorded crime statistics as statistics under reservation will remain in place; his plans to review the way in which such statistics are categorised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34902/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

The Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the compilation and publication of the official recorded crime statistics. Any decision on the categorisation of crime statistics is entirely a matter for the CSO and I, as Minister, have no role in such matters.

However, the subject matter is of course of critical importance to me and accordingly, my officials remain in regular contact with the CSO about it. 

Crime Levels

Ceisteanna (1128)

Gerry Adams

Ceist:

1128. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of recorded crime incidents in their respective groups for the Louth Garda division for the first quarter of 2017 and 2018, respectively, in tabular form. [34903/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

The Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the compilation and publication of the official recorded crime statistics, and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose.  I have asked the CSO to forward the available statistics in relation to the information requested directly to the Deputy.

Garda Deployment

Ceisteanna (1129, 1130, 1134, 1135)

Denise Mitchell

Ceist:

1129. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of core unit gardaí attached to the Dublin metropolitan region north in each year since 2009 to date in 2018 by division, district and sub-district in tabular form. [34924/18]

Denise Mitchell

Ceist:

1130. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí attached to the Dublin metropolitan region north by rank in each year since 2009 to date in 2018 by division, district and sub-district in tabular form. [34925/18]

Denise Mitchell

Ceist:

1134. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the full complement of gardaí in the Dublin metropolitan region north by rank in each year since 2009 to date in 2018 by district and sub-district. [34929/18]

Denise Mitchell

Ceist:

1135. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of civilian staff attached the Dublin metropolitan region north, in each year since 2009 to date in 2018 by division, district and sub-district, in tabular form. [34930/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1129, 1130, 1134 and 1135 together.

As 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.

This Government is committed to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and to deter crime. To achieve this the Government has put in place a plan for an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021 comprising 15,000 Garda members, 2,000 Reserve members and 4,000 civilians. We are making real, tangible progress on achieving this goal.

The moratorium on recruitment introduced in 2010 resulted in a significant reduction in the strength of An Garda Síochána. We are now rebuilding the organisation and providing the Commissioner with the resources needed to deploy increasing numbers of Gardaí across every Division as new Garda recruits come on stream. The work of local Gardaí is also supported by a number of Garda national units such as the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Armed Support Units, the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau and the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and these specialist units are also receiving significant investment.

I am informed by the Commissioner that since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014, almost 2,000 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream duties nationwide. Garda numbers, taking account of retirements, increased to 13,551 at the end of 2017 – a net increase of over 600 since the end of 2016. This year a further 800 new Garda Recruits will enter the Garda College and we are on track to reach 14,000 by the end of 2018.

In addition, a further 500 civilians will also be recruited to fill critical skills gaps across the organisation and to facilitate the redeployment of Gardaí from administrative and technical duties to front-line operational duties. There are plans to strengthen the Garda Reserve with new Reserves expected to commence training in 2018.

This focus on investment in personnel is critical and I am pleased that funding is in place to maintain this high level of investment in the Garda workforce to ensure that the overall vision for 2021 remains on track.

For the Deputy's information I have set out in the following tables, as supplied by the Commissioner, the latest figures as requested.

Table 1

Table 2. Garda Civilian Staff by Division 2010-2018

Station	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	May-18
D.M.R. South Central	37	33	32	31	28	30	28	63	68
D.M.R. North Central	44	43	40	42	39	38	38	43	42
D.M.R. NORTH	52	49	47	48	46	44	43	39	43
D.M.R. EAST	25	25	25	25	24	23	22	22	25
DMR SOUTH	34	33	32	31	30	28	34	36	36
D.M.R. WEST	53	53	50	50	50	47	47	52	55
Waterford	33	30	30	30	29	26	28	30	33
Wexford	29	28	28	27	28	28	28	32	32
Tipperary	38	37	36	34	35	32	36	41	41
Kilkenny/Carlow	25	26	27	27	27	27	30	31	33
Cork City	63	63	63	61	61	58	58	70	71
Cork North	25	25	24	26	25	25	28	31	33
Cork West	26	24	26	24	24	23	24	26	27
Kerry	33	33	34	34	34	34	34	36	36
Limerick	53	54	52	50	51	51	51	52	54
Donegal	30	30	30	30	30	30	31	36	35
Cavan/Monaghan	38	38	38	37	38	38	37	38	39
Sligo/Leitrim	27	26	24	25	25	27	25	31	31
Louth	24	25	24	24	24	23	23	26	31
Clare	35	35	33	31	31	31	31	31	33
Mayo	34	35	33	34	33	33	34	32	34
Galway	45	47	46	47	45	46	46	49	60
Roscommon/Longford	26	26	26	27	26	26	28	29	32
Westmeath	23	23	22	22	22	22	21	24	24
Meath	27	28	27	27	27	26	27	30	30
Kildare	30	30	31	30	29	29	30	30	30
Laois/Offaly	25	25	20	23	23	22	22	25	25
Wicklow	25	24	24	22	23	22	23	26	27

Garda Transport Data

Ceisteanna (1131)

Denise Mitchell

Ceist:

1131. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number and type of Garda vehicles attached to the Dublin metropolitan region north by rank in each year since 2009 to date in 2018 by division, district and sub-district in tabular form. [34926/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

There has been very significant investment in Garda resources across the State in recent years. The Government's Capital Plan 2016 – 2021 provides €46 million for investment in the Garda fleet, to ensure that An Garda Síochána has a modern, effective and fit-for-purpose fleet. This is in addition to the investment of almost €30 million in the period 2013 to 2015. Indeed from 2013 to 2017 almost €44 million has been invested in the fleet with some 2,000 vehicles coming on stream in that period to ensure that Gardaí can be mobile, visible and responsive on the roads and in the community to prevent and tackle crime.

As the Deputy will appreciate, decisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda vehicles across the various Garda divisions are a matter for the Garda Commissioner in the light of his identified operational demands and the availability of resources. As Minister, I have no role in that matter.

I understand that Garda management keeps the 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. The responsibility for the efficient deployment of all official Garda vehicles in each Division is assigned to the Divisional Officer, who may allocate vehicles between districts and stations as required by operational requirements.

The following tables set out information requested by the Deputy in relation to the number and type of Garda vehicles attached to the Dublin Metropolitan Region North. I am advised by An Garda Síochána, that for operational reasons, this information is provided at Division and District level only.

2018	Cars	Vans	Motorcycles	4x4	Other	Total
BALBRIGGAN-Y	9	3	0	0	0	12
BALLYMUN	30	17	1	1	3	52
COOLOCK-R	21	3	0	0	0	24
RAHENY-J	17	4	0	0	0	21
Total for DMR North Division 2018	77	27	1	1	3	109

2017	Cars	Vans	Motorcycles	4x4	Other	Total
BALBRIGGAN-Y	9	2	0	0	0	11
BALLYMUN	33	19	1	1	3	57
COOLOCK-R	22	2	0	0	0	24
RAHENY-J	19	4	0	0	0	23
Total for DMR North Division 2017	83	27	1	1	3	115

2016	Cars	Vans	Motorcycles	4x4	Other	Total
BALBRIGGAN-Y	8	2	0	0	0	10
BALLYMUN	36	24	2	1	5	68
COOLOCK-R	23	3	0	0	0	26
RAHENY-J	19	4	0	0	0	23
Total for DMR North Division 2016	86	33	2	1	5	127

	Cars	Vans	Motorcycles	4x4	Other
2015	Total	Total	Total	Total	Total	Total
BALBRIGGAN-Y	10	3	0	0	0	13
BALLYMUN	36	21	0	2	2	61
COOLOCK-R	26	2	0	0	0	28
RAHENY-J	16	3	0	0	1	20
Total for DMR North Division 2015	88	29	0	2	3	122

2014	Cars	Vans	Motorcycles	4x4	Other	Total
BALBRIGGAN-Y	8	3	0	0	0	11
BALLYMUN	35	17	3	2	1	58
COOLOCK-R	27	2	0	0	0	29
RAHENY-J	18	2	0	0	1	21
Total for DMR North Division 2014	88	24	3	2	2	119

2013	Cars	Vans	Motorcycles	4x4	Other	Total
BALBRIGGAN-Y	5	3	0	0	0	8
BALLYMUN	30	16	3	3	1	53
COOLOCK-R	26	3	0	0	0	29
RAHENY-J	15	3	0	0	1	19
Total for DMR North Division 2013	76	25	3	3	2	109

2012	Cars	Vans	Motorcycles	4x4	Other	Total
BALBRIGGAN-Y	8	2	0	0	0	10
BALLYMUN	33	18	4	3	1	59
COOLOCK-R	26	4	0	0	0	30
RAHENY-J	16	2	0	0	1	19
Total for DMR North Division 2012	83	26	4	3	2	118

2011	Cars	Vans	Motorcycles	4x4	Other	Total
BALBRIGGAN-Y	8	2	0	0	0	10
BALLYMUN	35	17	7	3	1	63
COOLOCK-R	26	3	0	0	1	30
RAHENY-J	18	1	0	0	2	21
Total for DMR North Division 2011	87	23	7	3	4	124

I am informed by the Garda authorities that figures for the years 2009 and 2010 are available only on a Divisional basis, as set out in the following table.

DMR North	Cars	Vans	Motorcycle	4x4	Other	Total
2009	100	26	9	4	1	140
2010	94	25	8	3	2	132

Questions Nos. 1132 and 1133 answered with Question No. 639.

Questions Nos. 1134 and 1135 answered with Question No. 1129.

Question No. 1136 answered with Question No. 939.

Question No. 1137 answered with Question No. 940.

Garda Deployment

Ceisteanna (1138)

Denise Mitchell

Ceist:

1138. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí attached to the regional support unit by rank in the Dublin metropolitan region north in each year since 2009 to date in 2018, in tabular form. [34933/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

As 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.

For the Deputy's information the following table, received from the Garda authorities, presents the latest data for the national specialist units which form Garda Special Crime Operations. It is important to note that these are national units which support the work of the 28 Garda Divisions across the Country and are consequently not broken down by Division.

I am informed by the Commissioner that the Special Detective Unit (SDU) is responsible for the investigation of threats to state security and the monitoring of persons who pose a threat to the security of the State on both national and international fronts. The Unit also provides security for visiting VIPs, cash in transit movements and armed response and is the operational wing of the Witness Security Programme. The highly trained and equipped specialist intervention unit, the Emergency Response Unit, is also part of SDU.

I am advised by the Commissioner that for security and operational reasons the strength of the SDU, ERU, Regional Support Units and the Special Tactics and Operational Command Unit cannot be provided.

Strength of Garda Special Crime Operations 31 May 2018

-	CR	DC	AC	CS	SU	IN	SG	GD	TOTAL
Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau	0	0	0	1	3	2	20	88	114
Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau	0	0	0	0	0	1	5	17	23
Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (formerly Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation)	0	0	0	1	2	2	16	47	68
Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation	0	0	0	1	3	0	15	62	81
Garda National Protective Services Bureau	0	0	0	0	3	2	17	41	63
Garda National Technical Bureau	0	0	0	0	1	2	16	49	68
Criminal Assets Bureau	0	0	0	1	1	0	9	31	42