Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 1 Mar 1995

Vol. 449 No. 8

Written Answers. - Garda Drugs Unit Costs.

Tony Gregory

Question:

96 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Justice the annual cost of the Drug Squad based at Harcourt Terrace, Dublin 2 to the State; the value of drug seizures of heroin, cocaine, ecstasy and cannabis in each of the years 1990 to 1994; and the number of intravenous drug abusers in prison during 1994. [4640/95]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen)

I am informed by the Garda authorities that records are not kept in such a way as to readily extract the annual cost of the Garda Drugs Unit based at Harcourt Square. The unit consists of 28 personnel who have access to Garda vehicles, administration and forensic facilities. The cost of the unit would include not only the cost of salaries but also the cost of these ancillary facilities.

Because of the number of variable factors involved in the illegal sale of drugs, the value of drugs seized could only be estimated very roughly, if at all. For this reason, it is not possible to give an accurate value of the drugs seized. However, the quantities seized are accurately quantifiable and are as set out below:—

Type of Drug	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994
Cannabis Resin	114.76 kg	1,101.62 kg	498.47 kg	4,200.31 kg	1,397 kg
Cannabis Herb	2,99 kg	50.406 kg	16.60 kg	795.00 g	65 kg
Heroin	578.24 kg	161.15 g	793.70 g	1,284.634 g	3,368 g
Cocaine	1,008.60 g	30.95 g	9.85 kg	347.924 g	88 g
Ecstasy		429 t	1,338 t	2,014 t	12,00 du

kg = kilogram, g = gramme, du = dosage units, t = tablet.

The figures for 1994 are provisional and subject to change.

It has been estimated within my Department that at least 40 per cent of the prison population at any one time have a background in drug abuse. This includes intravenous drug abusers.

Tony Gregory

Question:

97 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Justice the steps, if any, that are being taken in relation to drug education and awareness in schools by the Garda Síochána in the Dublin inner city area; the number of schools visited; and the future plans, if any, she has to include video and audio displays for schools, community groups and other interested groups. [4643/95]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen)

The Garda authorities inform me that 64 primary schools in the Dublin North Central and South Central Divisions were visited by members of the Garda during the period from September 1993 to June 1994 as part of the Garda schools programme.Community gardaí would also have visited post-primary schools within their areas of responsibility as part of their normal community policing duties. Raising the awareness of young people to the dangers of drug abuse formed an important part of these visits.

I have been informed by the Garda authorities that they have drawn up a comprehensive community based drugs awareness programme and arrangements are well advanced towards its implementation throughout the country. The programme will be operated by community gardaí and juvenile liaison officers and will involve visits to schools as well as attending meetings of community-based groups and the business community. This programme will include the use of video and audio displays.Extra training will be provided for those gardaí involved in the programme.

The programme has been carefully devised with the objective of advising young people of the dangers of drugs and encouraging them to resist the pressures to take drugs.

The Deputy may also be aware of the mobile drug prevention unit which was launched in October 1994. This has been used by the gardaí in the course of visits to various centres and communities, including schools, with the object of raising awareness about the dangers of drug abuse and imparting advice and assistance where necessary.