David Cullinane
Ceist:
840. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to the number of incidents of drug use, crime and antisocial behaviour around Railway Square in County Waterford. [54273/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra
I have sought information from the Garda authorities in order to answer the Deputy's question, however this information was not available in time. I will write to the Deputy again when the information is to hand.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51
I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 840 of 8 November 2022 where you asked:
‘if (the Minister’s) attention has been drawn to the number of incidents of drug use, crime and anti-social behaviour around Railway square in County Waterford.’
As you will recall, I sought the information from the Garda authorities and undertook to contact you again once the information was to hand.
As you may be aware, the Government’s strategic approach to the misuse of drugs is health-led, under the National Drugs and Alcohol Strategy 2017-2025, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery , with the intention being to reduce demand while balancing this with limiting access to illegal drugs to the greatest extent possible.
It is my understanding that the Health Research Board surveys the prevalence of drugs use, however, I am advised that this information is anonymised and not collated in such a manner as to indicate a localised geographic area. As such, I am unable to provide any statistical information related to incidents of drugs use in or around Railway Square.
I understand Railway Square is an integral part of Waterford City which is close to the city centre and is a high footfall business, hospitality and residential area.
I am assured that the Railway Square area is policed accordingly to similar areas with policing plans in place that are designed to address issues of crime, including drug related crime and public order offences.
As you will appreciate, under Section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business. This includes all operational policing matters.
Operation Tara has a strong focus on tackling street-level dealing throughout rural and urban Ireland.
The focus of this Operation is to disrupt, dismantle and prosecute drug trafficking networks at all levels - international, national and local - involved in the importation, distribution, cultivation, production, local street level dealing and sale and supply of controlled drugs.
A notable success of Operation Tara in Waterford this year occurred on 26 August, when Gardaí attached to the Waterford Divisional Drugs Unit seized combined drugs with a value in excess of €122,000 and arrested three people following a search in Waterford City.
Community Policing is a central feature and core value of policing and current policing strategies are predicated on the prevention of crime, public order offences and anti-social behaviour. An Garda Síochána make full use of the extensive range of legislation which is in place to address street crime and anti-social behaviour, including drug related crime
In addition, Waterford is one of three locations where Local Community Safety Partnerships (LCSPs) are being piloted, in advance of a planned national rollout following the enactment of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill. The Waterford LCSP brings together residents, community representatives, business interests, councillors, local authorities, and State services such as An Garda Síochána, Tusla and the HSE to devise and implement a Local Community Safety Plan for Waterford. The plan will reflect community priorities on local safety issues. For drug-related issues, the fact that the HSE and AGS are both members of the partnership will help to ensure that a joined-up, holistic approach is taken to tackling drug addiction and drug supply.
I am further advised that the Waterford District (which covers Waterford City) has a strength of 231 Garda members of all ranks assigned as of the 30 September, the latest date for when figures are available. This is an increase of 25.5% since the end of 2015, when there were 184 members assigned to the District.
