asked the Minister for Justice the number of people who have been convicted of supplying heroin or of possession of heroin with intent to supply it in each of the last four years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement on the degree of effectiveness of detections and prosecutions for these offences.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Heroin Offences.
2.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that statistics relating to persons convicted of supplying, or of possession with intent to supply any particular controlled drug, are not recorded separately by the Garda. Consequently, the information sought could not be compiled without the expenditure of a disproportionate amount of Garda resources.
The information which is readily available, and which is published in the Annual Crime Reports, refers to persons convicted of unlawful possession of any controlled drug, including possession with intent to supply, and refers also to persons who have been charged with possession of heroin whether for personal use, or for sale or supply to others.
This information is as follows: (1) Numbers of persons convicted for the unlawful possession of all controlled drugs including possession with intent to supply: 1981, 443; 1982, 818; 1983, 1,054; 1984, 446. Convictions obtained in any one year may relate to prosecutions taken in previous years. (2) Numbers of persons charged with possession of heroin, including possession for personal use or for supply to others: 1981, 177; 1982, 208; 1983, 449; 1984, 340.
The quantities of illicit drugs which have been seized and the number of persons arrested and successfully prosecuted in recent years indicate the success of the Garda in tackling this problem. I am informed by the Garda authorities that since 1983 illegal trafficking in drugs has levelled off and that, over the past two years, notwithstanding an intensification in Garda activity, there has been a decrease in the level of drug seizures, and in the number of persons charged with drug offences, which suggests a drop in drug trafficking. However, the Garda authorities stress that there is no question of relaxation of effort in this area and that their strategy for dealing with the problem is constantly under review.
Would the Minister agree with suggestions that the extent of drug abuse has been increasing year on year? Is he satisfied that the methods of detection being used by the Garda are satisfactory, or does he have plans to improve the effectiveness of their detection methods? So far as prosecutions are concerned, is he satisfied that amending legislation is not required or does he have any proposals in that regard?
As I pointed out in the original reply, the number of persons convicted for unlawful possession, including possession with intent to supply, and the number of persons charged with possession of heroin reduced between 1983 and 1984. That reduction, together with a reduction in the amount of illicit drugs seized would indicate that there is a falling off in the level of trafficking. I take the Deputy's question about the effectiveness of detection methods very seriously. That is what I had in mind when I said the Garda constantly reviewed their procedures for detection. As to the question of prosecutions, I have given the number of persons convicted over that period. I am not aware of any suggestions for a change in the law in that area, and I have no plans for that but if there are any proposals which any Member feels would be useful in that regard, I will certainly consider them.
The Minister said he does not have a breakdown of the number of persons who would be trafficking in heroin as distinct from those who are abusing, and the figure he gave covers general use of trafficking, but could he clarify that point? Does he not know how many heroin traffickers or pushers were convicted in that period?
I pointed out that the statistics relating to convictions for supply, or for possession with intent to supply, are not broken down by drug. I have given the number of convictions for the unlawful possession of all controlled drugs, including possession with intent to supply. I also gave figures for the numbers of persons charged with possession of heroin, including possession for personal use or possession to supply, but I cannot give a more detailed breakdown than that in relation to convictions.
Does the Minister have preliminary figures for 1985? Preliminary figures for 1985 for most other things seem to be available, and were given in this House.
No. The preliminary figures for 1985 are more global — they are for the broad categories of offences, but as soon as more detailed figures in relation to the categories of drugs I have already mentioned become available, I will make them available to the House.
In relation to detection, is the Minister aware that there is a sizeable problem in carrying out stake-outs in certain areas? Apparently, the responsibility for a stake-out has been allocated to the local district. This means that gardaí who would be on the beat or on other duties could be put on stake-out duty for long periods, presumably because the drug squad do not have enough people available. Would the Minister make provision in a supernumerary way, by way of overtime, or in some way which does not disrupt normal Garda duties? I am familiar with this problem in my area because a number of stake-outs have been carried out by the local gardaí. Admittedly, this is good in one way because the local garda knows the area, but he is not available to carry out his normal duties.
The matters raised by Deputy Woods are the responsibility of the Commissioner and I do not intend to comment on them, but this matter has been referred to on several occasions in this House. A very high proportion of drug seizures have been made by members of the uniformed force who were going about their normal duties. The reason for that lies to a large extent in their local knowledge and due to the fact that we have spent a considerable amount of resources over the last few years providing training in drug detection for members of the uniformed force as a matter of course.
The Minister is involved in the allocation of resources. I am asking him to look at this problem because at present the local gardaí, in conjunction with the drug squad, are being taken from their ordinary duties for weeks on end to stake out a particular house. This means they are not available to carry out their normal duties and there is no one to replace them.
That is not a question. A final supplementary from Deputy Wilson and then I am calling the next question.
Welcome back, a Cheann Comhairle. I want to raise on the Adjournment the animal feed crisis in County Cavan and the alarming increase in the number of animal deaths in that county.
I will communicate with the Deputy.