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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 24 Apr 1997

Vol. 478 No. 3

Written Answers. - Drugs Culture.

Ivor Callely

Question:

84 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Justice her understanding of the drug culture; if she will give details of the drug activity in Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10958/97]

I assure the Deputy I am fully aware of what the drug culture involves. I am aware of the devastating effects of drug abuse on communities where many young people have become involved with drugs, where many have died from disease associated with drug misuse. Drug misuse blights individual lives, undermines families and damages whole communities.I am aware of the fact that Ecstasy is a part of youth culture in certain areas and of the fact that young people have died as a result. I am also aware of the implications for society as a whole arising from the vast sums of money which can be made from trafficking in drugs and from the involvement of organised crime.

The Deputy can be assured of my total commitment to dealing with this problem and the fact that I am working tirelessly to deal with the issues of drug related crime and organised crime. Tackling the drugs problem is a long-term process, to which I attach a high priority. I am determined to see to it that the drug dealers and traffickers who seek to profit from fear, distress and death are dealt with.

The Garda authorities have provided me with the following statistics on the drugs problem in Dublin for 1995. The figures for 1996 are still provisional but the numbers prosecuted are about the same as for 1995.

1995
Number of drug prosecutions by division and type of drug

DMA Region

Cannabis

C/Resin

Heroin

LSD

Ecstasy

Amphet

Cocaine

Other

Total

DMA North

15

216

50

2

52

0

4

10

349

DMA North Central

38

128

120

1

49

4

16

22

378

DMA South

54

30

41

1

32

3

1

4

166

DMA South Central

52

68

69

0

21

0

1

0

211

DMA East

1

53

10

1

10

3

0

0

78

Total

160

495

290

5

164

10

22

36

1,182

Age Breakdown of persons charged by division

DMA Region

Under 17

17-21 yrs

Over 21 yrs

Total

Total

Juvenile referrals

Total

M

F

M

F

M

F

M

F

M

F

DMA North

18

0

105

17

186

23

309

40

349

0

0

0

DMA North Central

13

1

90

15

274

33

377

49

426

15

7

22

DMA South

8

5

91

28

106

17

205

50

255

8

5

13

DMA South Central

11

4

53

15

182

41

246

60

306

7

4

11

DMA East

2

0

37

2

35

2

74

4

78

38

8

46

Total

52

10

376

77

783

116

1,211

203

1,414

68

24

92

Number of persons charged with possession/supply offences

DMA Total

Section 3MDA1977/84(possession only)

Section 15MDA1977/84(possession only)

Total

DMA Total

746

522

1,268

Drug lectures by division

Division

Number of lectures

DMA North

176

DMA North Central

18

DMA South

51

DMA South Central

1

DMA East

34

Total

280

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