Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 367: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the weight of cannabis seized in the State by the Garda in each year between 1995 and 2004. [13211/05]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 368: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the weight of cocaine seized in the State by the Garda in each year between 1995 and 2004. [13213/05]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 371: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the current realisable street market price for heroin, cannabis, crack, cocaine and ecstasy tablets used to calculate drug seizures in 2004 and in each of the previous ten years. [13217/05]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 372: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the weight of crack seized in the State by the Garda in each year between 1995 and 2004. [13219/05]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 373: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the weight of heroin seized in the State by the Garda in each year between 1995 and 2004. [13221/05]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 374: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the quantity and weight of ecstasy tablets seized in the State by the Garda in each year between 1995 and 2004. [13236/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 367, 368 and 371 to 374, inclusive, together.

I have been informed by the Garda authorities that aggregate data for 2004 drug seizures is not available as yet. This data is being prepared for inclusion in the Garda Síochána annual report for 2004.

The following are the details of the drugs seizures in the years 1995 to 2003 as requested by the Deputy.

In relation to the Deputy's question concerning the weight of crack cocaine seized in the State by the Garda in each year between 1995 and 2004, I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the forensic science laboratory advises that there has been no significant increase in the amount of freebase cocaine analysed by it in the period 1995 to 2004, inclusive.

I am further informed that the forensic science laboratory advises that it is difficult to provide exact figures for the amount of freebase cocaine analysed without conducting exhaustive searches of its databases for the years concerned. However, the laboratory is conducting a review of cocaine seizures presented to it for analysis in the years 2003 and 2004 with a view to identifying the extent of which these seizures contained any freebase cocaine rather than hydrochloric cocaine which is the type most commonly seized. To date, this review of cases indicates that freebase cocaine has only been detected in a very small minority of cases and that there are no indications from cases presented of any significant increase in the seizures of freebase cocaine in this jurisdiction. I have been informed by the Garda authorities that they calculate the current realisable street market price of the different illegal drug seizures based on internal guidelines which are provided for officers on an ongoing basis in the operation of their duties in conjunction with the provisions of section 4(3) of the Criminal Justice Act 1999 which state:

If the court is satisfied that a member of the Garda Síochána or an officer of customs and excise has knowledge of the unlawful sale of supply of controlled drugs, that member or officer, as the case may be, shall be entitled in any proceedings for an offence under this section to be heard and to give evidence as to—

(a) the market value of the controlled drug concerned, or

(b) the aggregate of the market values of the controlled drugs concerned.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 369: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the location of each of the finds of heroin, cannabis, crack, cocaine and ecstasy with a value of over €10,000 in the past five years. [13215/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities that the requirement to produce details of seizures in excess of €10,000 for the period in question would involve a detailed manual search of records necessitating the expenditure of considerable resources which would not be justified.

I am further informed that there were no significant seizures of freebase cocaine during the period in question.

The table hereunder provides the details of locations of significant seizures, namely, seizures valued at €300,000 or greater, broken down per region and drug type, for the years 2000 to 2004 as follows:

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 370: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding prosecutions in relation to each of the finds of heroin, cannabis, crack, cocaine and ecstasy with a value exceeding €10,000 in the past five years; if persons have been charged; if so, if they are currently before the courts, have been acquitted, convicted, sentenced or are serving a sentence. [13216/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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It has not been possible within the timeframe involved to collate the information required by the Deputy. I will contact the Deputy directly when the information is to hand.