Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 March 2022
532. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice the staffing complement of each Garda drug task force unit by Garda division for 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16678/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will appreciate, 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.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that at 28 February 2022, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 329 Garda personnel in Divisional Drugs Units assigned to tackle drug-related crime on a local basis throughout the country. This represents an increase of over 48% since 31 December 2018, when there were 222 Gardaí assigned to Divisional Drugs Units nationwide.
These members are supported, as needed, by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, which has 84 Gardaí attached to it as at 28 February 2022.
For the Deputy's information, the attached tables, which have been provided to me by the Garda authorities, set out the number of Garda members assigned to the Divisional Drugs Units in 2018 and up to and including 28 February 2022, the latest date for when figures are available.
A detailed breakdown of Garda numbers is available on my Department’s website. This information is updated every month with the latest data provided by An Garda Síochána. Information on Garda staff, the Garda Workforce and other facts and figures are available from the following link: www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/Garda_Workforce
