Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 27 Apr 1993

Vol. 429 No. 6

Written Answers. - Drugs Menace.

Peter Barry

Question:

106 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide additional facilities, such as an increase in the personnel of the Drug Squad and the provision of the most technologically advanced equipment, to combat the growing drugs menace in Cork; and if she will make a statement on the extent of this increase over the years 1990 to 1992, the number of convictions for drugs related offences, and the number of people who have been charged in the same period.

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn)

The information sought by the Deputy in relation to convictions and charges for drug-related crimes in the Cork area in each of the years 1990 and 1991 is as follows:

	No. of persons charged	No. of Convictions
1990	371*	228
1991	439*	322

*Persons charged in one year may not necessarily be convicted in the same year.

Figures for 1992 are not yet available but provisional indicators suggest that there has been a sizeable increase in the number of persons charged and convicted.

I would like to assure the House that the prevention and detection of drug-related offences in Cork, as elsewhere in the country, is treated with the highest priority by the Garda authorities who have my full support in this respect.

A special Garda drug squad is in operation in Cork which is assisted by the Limerick and Dublin Drug Units and other specialist units as required. I am informed by the Garda authorities that significant additional personnel were assigned to the Cork Drugs Unit in 1992 and again this year. In addition, all members of the Garda Síochána deal with law enforcement aspects of drug misuse within their own operational area and the gardaí in Cork have and will continue to receive a high level of training in drug law enforcement.

The allocation of manpower and other resources to specialist units such as drug enforcement is a matter for the Garda authorities. They have informed me that they are satisfied that the Cork Drugs Unit has the necessary resources, both technical and otherwise, to deal with the drugs problem in the Cork area. In this regard I am informed by the Garda authorities that the matter will be kept under continuous review.