Vol. 527 No. 5
212 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the estimated backlog of cases currently in the forensic science laboratory; and the measures which he has introduced to increase resources to the national forensics laboratory to ensure that drug cases, in particular, can be expedited. [29115/00]
There are approximately 3,700 cases awaiting forensic examination in the forensic science laboratory at present. The number of cases received in the laboratory annually is approximately 12,000.
The majority of the cases waiting forensic examination are drug analysis cases. This situation has arisen as a result of the recent success of the Garda Síochána in drug seizures. In 1998 and 1999, for example, illicit drugs with an estimated street value of £120 million were seized.
In order to improve the situation my Department has sanctioned the purchase of a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer to speed up the analysis of powder drugs such as heroin, cocaine and amphetamines.
The management of the laboratory are also operating a system of case prioritisation to ensure that the most urgent cases are dealt with.
I should also mention that my Department has recently commissioned an independent review of the administrative, management and organisation requirements of the forensic science laboratory by a firm of management consultants. The consultants are expected to report shortly.
