Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I take very seriously the points raised by Deputy Crowe and I acknowledge his work over many years on behalf of communities in his constituency. Tackling the sale and supply of drugs is a key priority for the Government and An Garda Síochána. The Garda is pursuing a number of strategies to tackle drug trafficking by organised criminal gangs, including the following: gathering intelligence on those involved in the distribution of drugs; conducting targeted operations on criminal networks based on intelligence; working with the Criminal Assets Bureau to seize the assets of criminals and disrupt their activities; and working in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies, both within and outside the jurisdiction.

I spoke earlier today in the other House in regard to crime, in particular drug-related crime. As I said there, the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau leads in tackling drug trafficking and the supply of illicit drugs in Ireland, and it continues to have significant success in tackling these issues. I understand from the Garda Commissioner that, since its establishment in March 2015, the bureau has been responsible for the seizure of controlled substances with an estimated street value of approximately €167 million, the seizure of cash believed to be the proceeds of crime to a value of €10 million and the seizure of 108 firearms and more than 3,000 rounds of ammunition. I further understand that, this year alone, the bureau has been responsible for the seizure of controlled substances to the value of €20 million, cash believed to be the proceeds of crime to the value of €2.4 million and 17 firearms.

I am setting this out because it is important to recognise that the Garda is having significant success in tackling the problem of illicit drugs. While I accept there is more to do, we should not be blind to the ongoing and positive progress that is being made. I understand the Garda works closely with the communities within which it serves for the purpose of addressing drug-related issues experienced within those communities, including through overt patrolling by uniformed personnel and through intelligence-led operations targeting known criminals and gangs.

Investing in capacity-building measures to support the role of law enforcement authorities is important in dealing with emerging drugs trends. The roll-out of the new operating model of An Garda Síochána now occurring meets a key commitment in A Policing Service for the Future, the implementation plan for the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland. This model is the norm in many other countries, and I am confident it will serve Ireland well by providing a more agile, more localised and more responsive police service nationwide, including in the area to which Deputy Crowe referred. It will over time increase the number and visibility of front-line gardaí who will be available to combat all forms of criminality, including drug-dealing. Ongoing investment in An Garda Síochána is supporting the ongoing and sustained recruitment of Garda members and staff. We now have more than 14,300 gardaí nationwide, supported by almost 3,000 Garda staff. The organisation is still growing towards the Government's target of an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 by 2021, including 15,000 sworn members of An Garda Síochána. I acknowledge the numbers in the Dublin metropolitan region south division, which have also increased.

I assure the Deputy that the role of community groups, the Department of Health and my Department is to ensure that every effort is made to work with communities to stamp out what is a serious issue within society.

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