Written Answers. - Drugs Offences.
Jack Wall
Question:
169
Mr. Wall
asked the
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
if he has satisfied himself with his Department's plans to deal with the sale of drugs, the apprehension of dealers and the information available to the public to protect society from becoming a society with a drug culture; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9192/01]
Both the Garda Commissioner and I are totally committed to tackling the supply of illicit drugs.
My policies in combating the drugs problem are well known: tough legislation backed by strong law enforcement in tandem with an inte grated partnership approach to dealing with the interlinked problems of drugs, crime and social disadvantage. This combination has resulted in significant drug seizures, major Irish-based drug trafficking organisations being dismantled and local communities being actively involved in dealing with problems in their own areas.
My Department continues to play its role in the development of the national drugs strategy and both my Department and I are represented on the various structures that have been established to implement this strategy. This ensures that we continue to contribute to the development of integrated policies to tackle drug misuse at national and local level.
The Garda tackles both major drug trafficking groups and street-level drug dealing, as well as dealing with the international aspects of drug trafficking. The major trafficking groups are constantly being targeted and a number of significant internationally driven seizures have been made. Garda operations such as Dóchas, Cleanstreet and Nightcap continue to prove effective in targeting street dealing and the distribution of drugs in nightclubs and licensed premises. Provisional figures for 2000 indicate that the Garda made almost 7,000 arrests under these programmes last year alone.
Dealing with the drugs issue remains a high priority for the Garda Síochána and enforcing the law in relation to drugs is one of the six key result areas established under the Garda Síochána Corporate Strategy Document 2000-04. A number of specific performance indicators have been established within the annual policing plan to achieve the overall objective of enforcing the law in relation to drugs and specific targets have been set concerning all drug related offences.
The national drug strategy unit at the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation provides literature in relation to drugs and drug interventions upon request. Literature is provided on topics such as: local drug task force handbook; information note in relation to the young people's facilities and services fund; directory of training courses in dealing with drug misuse.
In addition, the health promotion unit of the Department of Health and Children implements a wide range of initiatives aimed at creating a greater awareness of the problems of drug misuse and preventing young people from turning to drug misuse in the first instance.
The substance abuse programmes operated by the Department of Education and Science, in both primary and second level schools are structured to ensure that every child has the necessary knowledge and life-skills to make informed decisions about their health, personal lives and social development.
