asked the Minister for Justice the number of convictions in respect of drug abuse in each of the past six months; and how these figures compare with those for the corresponding period last year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Drug Abuse.
44.
Crime statistics are compiled on an annual basis and the figures asked for would have to be specially compiled. Figures for individual months are of no particular significance, depending as they do on a variety of accidental factors such as adjournments, and I do not consider that I would be justified in asking the Garda to compile these figures at the expense of other work.
I assume that the offences which the Deputy has in mind are those of unlawfully supplying drugs and of unauthorised possession of drugs. In 1971, three persons were convicted for unlawfully supplying drugs and 82 persons were convicted for unauthorised possession of drugs. The corresponding figures for 1972 were three and 179.
The Minister will admit that there is a marked increase.
I regret to say there is an increase.