John Brady
Question:552. 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. [29827/24]
View answerTuesday, 9 July 2024
Questions (552)
Written answers
Tackling serious and organised crime is a key priority for me as Minister for Justice, and I am committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to ensure communities around Ireland are safe and feel safe.
The unprecedented allocation of over €2.35 billion for 2024 to An Garda Síochána demonstrates the Government's commitment to ensuring An Garda Síochána has provision for the equipment, technology, facilities, fleet and personnel it needs to carry out its vital policing work. This funding has enabled the Garda Commissioner to assign extra resources to the specialist units involved in tackling organised crime.
These units include the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB), the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Armed Support Unit, and the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB).
GNDOCB leads in tackling all forms of drug trafficking and the supply of illicit drugs in Ireland. Given the global nature of the drugs trade, international law enforcement co-operation remains a key element in the overall response.
I am formed by the Garda authorities that, as of the end of April 2024, there were 105 Gardaí assigned to the GNDOCB. The table below provides a breakdown by rank.
|
C/Supt |
Supt |
Inspector |
Sergeant |
Garda |
Total |
|
1 |
3 |
3 |
20 |
77 |
104 |
The Bureau’s work is supported by Divisional Drugs Units nationwide, and by all Gardaí working in local communities.
The further table below, provided to me by the Garda authorities, outlines the number of Gardaí assigned to each Divisional Drugs Unit nationwide from the end of December 2019 up to the end of April 2024.
|
Divisional Drugs Units |
Dec-19 |
Dec-20 |
Dec-21 |
Dec-22 |
Dec-23 |
Apr-24 |
|
D.M.R.S.C. |
17 |
10 |
6 |
4 |
15 |
14 |
|
D.M.R.N.C |
12 |
19 |
12 |
31 |
24 |
34 |
|
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 |
21 |
|
D.M.R.W. |
7 |
22 |
26 |
20 |
27 |
26 |
|
Waterford |
15 |
14 |
17 |
14 |
15 |
13 |
|
Wexford |
9 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
8 |
8 |
|
Kilkenny/Carlow |
5 |
7 |
11 |
8 |
7 |
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 |
9 |
|
Sligo/Leitrim |
6 |
6 |
2 |
7 |
8 |
8 |
|
Galway |
9 |
9 |
8 |
10 |
21 |
17 |
|
Kildare |
11 |
10 |
9 |
10 |
13 |
7 |
|
Laois/Offaly |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
9 |
9 |
|
Wicklow |
4 |
6 |
6 |
7 |
5 |
5 |
|
Louth |
4 |
13 |
14 |
11 |
11 |
|
|
Cavan/Monaghan |
6 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
|
|
Louth/Cavan/Monaghan |
20 |
|||||
|
Clare |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
|
Tipperary |
7 |
7 |
11 |
12 |
11 |
|
|
Clare/Tipperary |
17 |
|||||
|
Mayo |
5 |
8 |
8 |
7 |
7 |
|
|
Roscommon/Longford |
5 |
7 |
6 |
4 |
5 |
|
|
Mayo/Roscommon/Longford |
12 |
|||||
|
Meath |
7 |
7 |
5 |
6 |
5 |
|
|
Westmeath |
8 |
7 |
5 |
7 |
6 |
|
|
Meath/Westmeath |
12 |
|||||
|
Total |
231 |
306 |
315 |
311 |
326 |
336 |
Please note that this information is based upon operational data which has been provided by An Garda Síochána and is liable to change.
I am assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review, in the context of crime trends and policing priorities.