Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 May 2021
205. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí by rank attached to the Louth divisional drugs unit in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24946/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is, by law, responsible for the management of An Garda Síochána, including personnel matters and deployment of resources. As Minister, I have no responsibility for these matters. I am assured however, that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities, to ensure their optimum use.
The table below, as provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of Gardaí by rank attached to the Louth divisional drugs unit in each of the past five years
|
Year |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
March 2021 |
|
Sergeant |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
|
Garda |
5 |
2 |
3 |
11 |
12 |
|
Total |
5 |
2 |
4 |
13 |
14 |
I understand that there are now 316 Garda personnel in Divisional Drugs Units, as of 31 March 2021, assigned to tackle drug related crime on a local basis throughout the country. This represents an increase of over 37% since 31 December 2019 when there were 231 Gardaí assigned to Divisional Drugs units nationwide. These members are supported, as needed, by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau which has 95 Gardaí attached to it as of 31 March 2021.
