[Oireachtas] Dáil Éireann debate. Question 868 – An Garda Síochána [12217/24]. (20 Mar 2024)
External website: https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2024...
868. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Justice the strength levels of the Garda drug squad over the past five years, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12217/24]
Minister for Justice: As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, as well as, for decisions on the deployment of personnel among the various Garda Divisions. As Minister, I have no role in these matters.
I am, however, assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities.
The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to fight crime. An Garda Síochána has been allocated unprecedented funding of over €2.35 billion for 2024 representing a 25% increase since 2020. This funding will allow for the continued recruitment of Garda members and staff.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that as of 29 February 2024, the latest date for when figures are available, there was a total of 13,930 Garda members nationwide. This represents an increase of almost 9% since the end of December 2015. In addition, the civilianisation programme has freed up almost 900 Garda members from back office work for front line policing work since 2015.
I am also advised by the Garda authorities that at the end of February 2024 there were 318 Garda members assigned to Divisional Drugs Units nationwide. This includes 270 Gardaí, 40 Sergeants and 8 Inspectors. This represents an increase of almost 38% since the end of December 2019 when there were 231 Garda members assigned to these units.
The table below, which was provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of Garda members attached to Divisional Drugs Units at the 29 February 2024.
|
Division |
Dec-19 |
Dec-20 |
Dec-21 |
Dec-22 |
Dec-23 |
Feb-24 |
|
D.M.R.S.C. |
17 |
10 |
6 |
4 |
15 |
15 |
|
D.M.R.N.C |
12 |
19 |
12 |
31 |
24 |
25 |
|
D.M.R.N. |
19 |
30 |
28 |
29 |
23 |
24 |
|
D.M.R.E. |
0 |
7 |
7 |
6 |
7 |
7 |
|
D.M.R.S. |
18 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
24 |
23 |
|
D.M.R.W. |
7 |
22 |
26 |
20 |
27 |
24 |
|
Waterford |
15 |
14 |
17 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
|
Wexford |
9 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
8 |
8 |
|
Kilkenny/Carlow |
5 |
7 |
11 |
8 |
7 |
8 |
|
Tipperary |
7 |
7 |
11 |
12 |
11 |
11 |
|
Cork City |
14 |
15 |
23 |
19 |
17 |
19 |
|
Cork North |
5 |
9 |
8 |
8 |
7 |
7 |
|
Cork West |
5 |
6 |
7 |
7 |
6 |
6 |
|
Kerry |
11 |
10 |
15 |
15 |
12 |
12 |
|
Limerick |
10 |
19 |
19 |
22 |
23 |
18 |
|
Donegal |
6 |
18 |
21 |
5 |
7 |
7 |
|
Cavan/Monaghan |
6 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
Sligo/Leitrim |
6 |
6 |
2 |
7 |
8 |
8 |
|
Louth |
4 |
13 |
14 |
11 |
11 |
11 |
|
Clare |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
Mayo |
5 |
8 |
8 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
|
Galway |
9 |
9 |
8 |
10 |
21 |
21 |
|
Roscommon/Longford |
5 |
7 |
6 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
|
Westmeath |
8 |
7 |
5 |
7 |
6 |
6 |
|
Meath |
7 |
7 |
5 |
6 |
5 |
6 |
|
Kildare |
11 |
10 |
9 |
10 |
13 |
7 |
|
Laois/Offaly |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
9 |
9 |
|
Wicklow |
4 |
6 |
6 |
7 |
5 |
5 |
|
Total |
231 |
306 |
315 |
311 |
326 |
318 |
Please note that this information is based upon operational data which has been provided by An Garda Síochána and may be liable to change.
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