I am informed by the Garda authorities that the information sought by the Deputy in relation to the number of seizures of heroin in areas outside Dublin in 1999 is not currently available, but I will forward the information to the Deputy as soon as possible.
However, the Annual Report of An Garda Síochána 1999 states that as in previous years, 96% of the heroin offences were recorded in the Dublin Metropolitan Region. The total number of offences involving heroin where proceedings commenced is 887.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the number of offences involving heroin where proceedings commenced outside the Dublin Metropolitan Area in 1999 are as follows: