Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 October 2023
165. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the efforts currently being made to discourage young people from becoming involved in a life of crime including drugs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44444/23]
View answerAt the outset I would like to assure the Deputy that tackling drug dealing and associated criminal activity, including by organised crime groups, is a top priority for An Garda Síochána and this Government.
The Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 was passed in July of this year. These new laws will ensure that An Garda Síochána and our Courts have the tools they need to take firm and decisive action to deal with our most serious criminals.
In relation to the use of children by criminal gangs to deal drugs, the Criminal Justice (Exploitation of Children in the Commission of Offences) Bill was initiated in the Dáil in January of this year.
In addition to the new legislation, the Greentown approach to assisting children who are drawn into criminal networks, based on the 'Lifting the Lid on Greentown' report produced by my Department in partnership with the University of Limerick, is currently being operated in two locations and is having a positive impact on helping those children and their families break away from the criminal gangs who are exploiting them.
Part 4 of the Children Act 2001 (as amended) provides the statutory basis for the Garda Youth Diversion Programme (GYDP). The intention of the programme is to divert children and young people who have engaged in criminal or anti-social behaviour away from the criminal justice system and towards more positive life choices. Children who commit criminal offences are considered for admission to the Programme. Each case is assessed individually and the Director of the GYDP, who is a Garda Superintendent, decides if the case is suitable for inclusion.
Youth Diversion Projects (YDPs) are a fundamental support to the operation of the statutory Garda Diversion Programme. There are currently over 100 YDPs nationwide, with a small number of additional projects due to come on stream this year to meet the commitment in the Youth Justice Strategy to extend this service to every child or young person in the State who can benefit from it.
Youth Diversion Projects are co-funded by the Irish Government and European Social Fund as part of the ESF+ Programme 2021-2027.
An Garda Síochána continues to target those involved in the sale and supply of illegal drugs through Operation Tara, which has a strong focus on tackling street-level dealing across the country. Operation Tara also focuses on disrupting and dismantling the drug trafficking networks that impact on our communities and prosecuting those involved at every level.
The Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) has had significant, sustained success in disrupting the supply of illicit drugs by organised crime groups with over €235 million worth of drugs seized in the period 2016 – 2021, as well as several substantial seizures in recent times. The most notable of these has been the record seizure off the south coast as part of a joint agency operation with the Defence Forces, Coast Guard and international partners.
The record budgetary resources allocated to An Garda Síochána in recent years have enabled the Garda Commissioner to assign extra resources to the specialist units involved in tackling organised crime, including the Armed Support Unit, GNDOCB, the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
The Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) has also seen an increase in funding in recent years, with the Community Safety Innovation Fund (CSIF) reinvesting the proceeds of crime into communities, reflecting the success of CAB and An Garda Síochána. I am delighted that the CSIF has increased again this year to €3.75 million under Budget 2024.
An Garda Síochána uses multi-disciplinary approaches to ensure the activities of individuals and groups involved in criminal enterprise are effectively targeted. Such approaches include the use of money-laundering legislation and the powers available to CAB under the proceeds of crime legislation.
Other measures taken to tackle organised crime include the strengthening of legislation where required and the establishment of Garda Armed Response Units in all Garda regions which are available to support all divisions countrywide.
