Frances Fitzgerald
Question:368 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the action he will take to deal with the disturbing increase in the availability and use of heroin in the Dublin area. [17930/00]
Written Answers. - Drug Abuse.
The Garda Commissioner and I are totally committed to tackling the problem of drug abuse, including heroin abuse. The Government's policy of tough legislation, backed up by strong law enforcement measures, in tandem with a multi-agency partnership approach to dealing with the problems of drugs, crime and social disadvantage will ultimately prove sucessful.
The Garda authorities are successfully targeting the problem of drug dealing at both a national and local level. Between January, 1998 and December, 1999, drug seizures amounting to an estimated street value in excess of £120 million were made. In the same period, Garda operations, such as Dóchas, Cleanstreet and Mainstreet, to combat on-street drug dealing were also extremely effective resulting in the seizure of illicit drugs with an estimated street value in excess of £20 million and in over 20,000 arrests being made.
Preliminary figures for significant drug seizures indicate that drug seizures amounting to an estimated street value in excess of £5 million were made in the first quarter of 2000. Provisional figures for Operation Dóchas indicate that illicit drugs with an estimated street value of over £1.2 million were seized and over 2,000 arrests were made between 1 January and 16 April, 2000.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the use of heroin in the Dublin area is continually monitored by the Garda national drugs unit and city centre drug units. Known drug traffickers continue to be targeted and when evidence becomes available they are dealt with in accordance with the relevant legislation. Specialist operations are undertaken and a special operation – Operation Clean Street Phase V was recently undertaken by the Garda national drugs unit. International co-operation is enlisted by the Garda Síochána when appropriate and has contributed to a number of arrests and seizures.