Vol. 558 No. 4
384 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason the number of drug lectures given by the gardaí was lowest in the eastern region in the Carlow-Kildare division in view of the fact that this division would have the greatest population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24825/02]
I am informed by the Garda authorities that 35 drug lectures were given to various groups in the Carlow-Kildare division during the year ended 31 December 2001 and that this number reflects the requests for lectures sought. The trend in giving lectures has evolved to addressing larger groups of people, thus allowing for efficiency in use of resources. Lectures are only one means of communicating relevant information by the gardaí to the public. The Garda Síochána also addresses a large numbers of listeners on relevant drug related issues through local radio in counties Kildare, Carlow and Wicklow. In addition, a mobile unit was used in the division for one week during the year by crime prevention officers to address crime prevention and drug abuse issues in the area. The mobile unit was set up in a prominent place in a different town each day.
