Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 March 2022
531. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice the number of drug detection dogs trained to use their senses to detect illegal substances that are available in each Garda division; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16679/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) for the management and administration of Garda business, including the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff. The Commissioner is also responsible for the deployment of An Garda Síochána throughout the State and, as Minister, I have no direct role in these independent functions.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that the Garda Dog Unit (GDU) is based at Kilmainham Garda Station, in the Dublin Metropolitan Region and has a national remit under the direction and control of Assistant Commissioner, Organised & Serious Crime and the strategic control of Detective Chief Superintendent, Operational Support Services. The Garda Dog Units at Cork and Limerick are under the direction of Assistant Commissioner, Organised & Serious Crime and the operational control of local Garda Management.
There are three types of working Garda dogs, namely:
- General Purpose Dogs,
- Drugs/Cash/Firearms Detection Dogs, and
- Explosive Detection Dogs .
Currently twenty-eight Garda working dogs are attached to the GDU, which includes those assigned to the Southern Regional Dog Unit based at Cork and Limerick.
The table below outlines the distribution of dogs within the GDU by type and location:
|
- |
DUBLIN |
CORK |
LIMERICK |
TOTAL |
|
General Purpose |
11 |
2 |
1 |
14 |
|
Drugs/Cash/Firearms Detection |
6 |
2 |
2 |
10 |
|
Explosive Detection |
4 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
The training period for a Drugs/Cash/Firearms Detection dog is ten weeks, with the dog handler being trained with the dog at the same time. The dog handler and detection dog carry out ongoing training twice a month and receive refresher training every four months. Such dogs used for Drugs/Cash/Firearms detection are usually Springer Spaniel or Cocker Spaniel breeds.
The GDU has General Purpose Dogs which are generally German Sheppard, Belgian Sheppard or a Cross of German/Belgian Shepard breeds and are trained on human scent detection, public order (crowd control) and are trained to work with the Garda Public Order and Tactical Units at Major events.
Explosive Detection Dogs, which are all based in Dublin, are generally Labrador or Spaniel breeds. They are trained to detect the presence of explosive substances and are mainly used to conduct security searches to declare an area clear of explosives.
