Vol. 449 No. 1
157 Mr. Kirk asked the Minister for Justice, in view of the disturbing increase in drug abuse in the Drogheda area, County Louth, the action, if any, she proposes to take; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3072/95]
Arising from the establishment of a specialist Garda drugs unit in Drogheda in 1993, there was a significant increase in the number of detections made there in 1994 under the Misuse of Drugs Acts. I am informed by the Garda authorities that this increase in detections is attributable more to the higher level of Garda activity following the establishment of the specialist unit than to any increase in drug abuse.
Apart from the sustained enforcement of the law, I am informed that the Garda takes every opportunity to increase awareness of the drugs problem and of the need to tackle it and, to this end, meets parents, teachers, students, business groups and voluntary organisations.
