Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 19 Nov 2002

Vol. 557 No. 4

Written Answers. - Drug Seizures.

Seán Crowe

Ceist:

413 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the percentage increase of cocaine recovery by the Garda authorities in the greater Tallaght area in the past two years. [22532/02]

Seán Crowe

Ceist:

419 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the amount of drugs recovered in the Dublin south west area; and the number of individuals who have been successfully dealt with through the courts for these offences. [22539/02]

Seán Crowe

Ceist:

420 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the growing problem of the availability of hard drugs in the Dublin south west area; and if the Garda authorities have plans to increase in numbers the drugs unit in the area. [22540/02]

Seán Crowe

Ceist:

423 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the increase in the availability of cocaine in the Dublin area; and the steps his Department is taking to eradicate the increased availability of this substance which is causing havoc in working class communities throughout the city. [22543/02]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 413, 419, 420 and 423 together.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that there appears to be an increase in the availability of cocaine in Dublin recently. In response to this perceived increase, operations have been initiated in divisions throughout the Dublin area. Divisional and district drugs units, backed up by local units, have targeted known suppliers and significant seizures and prosecutions have resulted from these operations. There have been seven detections of attempted cocaine importation at Dublin Airport by joint Garda and customs operations since January 2002. The situation will continue to be monitored throughout the Dublin area and Garda operations targeting known suppliers of cocaine will continue.

There has been an increase in the number of seizures of controlled drugs in the Dublin south-west area, which comprises the sub-districts of Tallaght, Clondalkin, Ronanstown, Lucan and Leixlip. Drugs with a street value of €1.5 million, notably cannabis and cannabis resin, were seized in the first ten months of 2002. Some 85 people have been successfully dealt with through the courts for drugs offences and a number of files have been submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions. These statistics are provisional and are subject to change. According to the Garda authorities, 468 grams of cocaine, with an estimated street value of approximately €48,000, have been seized in the Tallaght area so far this year. This compares with a total amount of 282 grams, with an estimated street value of approximately €28,000, seized last year. It is notable that two significant seizures in the two-year period in question accounted for almost 70% of the total amount of cocaine seized.

The drugs units in the Dublin south-west area consist of four sergeants and 19 gardaí. The strength of drug units is reviewed on a regular basis by local Garda management and altered as the need arises. Drug abuse in the Dublin south-west area is monitored on a regular basis and resources are deployed by the Garda authorities as appropriate. The divisional crime task force detective units and uniformed gardaí perform regular patrols of the area. The national drugs strategy outlines a comprehensive policy framework through which all those involved in addressing the drugs problem can work for the next seven years. The local drugs task forces, including the task force in the Tallaght area, were set up to develop and implement drugs strategies for their areas which co-ordinate all relevant programmes and address any gaps in service. The task forces also provide a mechanism which enables the local community to work closely with the State and voluntary agencies.