Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 March 2022
533. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice the number of drug-related offences in each Garda district in each of the years 2016 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16677/22]
View answerUnder the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including Garda operations aimed at preventing and countering criminal activity, and the enforcement of legislation pertaining to illegal drugs. The Government is acutely aware of the sustained and significant damage that drug dealing has on communities across the country. Organised criminal activity, including drug dealing, represents a serious threat to community safety.
The Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) is having significant success in disrupting drug trafficking and the supply of illicit drugs by organised crime groups. The Bureau’s work is supported by Divisional Drugs Units nationwide, and by all Gardaí working in local communities. GNDOCB also works closely and productively with international law enforcement partners. Gardaí continue to work closely with local authorities, the HSE, NGOs, community groups and other State agencies to tackle the problems of drug addiction and abuse.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the compilation and publication of all crime statistics. The CSO produces these statistics using data recorded on An Garda Síochána’s PULSE system and makes regular releases under reservation in relation to various crime statistics. The CSO also continues to work with An Garda Síochána to address quality issues in the underlying sources used to compile the statistics.
For the Deputy's information, the attached table outlines the number of controlled drug offences for the years 2016 to 2021.
Furthermore, the latest available crime statistics, Q4 of 2021, as published by the Central Statistics Office on 29 March 2022 are publicly available at the link below.
www.cso.ie/en/csolatestnews/presspages/2022/recordedcrimequarter42021/
