Written answers

Thursday, 7 December 2006

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

National Drugs Strategy

7:00 pm

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 89: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason contrary to his affirmation, there appears to be a serious deficiency in the extent of resources, equipment and personnel available to the gardaí to deal with the ever increasing drug problem; if he will engage in discussions with those gardaí directly involved with a view to fully identifying the extent of the problem and making available the necessary resources to deal with the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42213/06]

Photo of Michael McDowellMichael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I can assure the Deputy that the policy of targeting those involved in drug trafficking remains among the Government's top policing priorities. There is no question of there being any deficiency in the resources, equipment and personnel available to the Gardaí in pursuit of this priority.

I wish to inform the Deputy that as proof of the Government's commitment and determination to ensure that the Garda authorities will continue to implement targeted, intelligence and high intensity operations against organised crime with a special focus on drugs crime, a record level of resources, both in financial and personnel terms, is being made available to An Garda Síochána this year.

This commitment is also evidenced by the fact that the allocation for the Garda Vote for 2007 is up by €135.3m to €1.445 billion — an increase of 10% on this year's allocation and is also shown by the fact that the personnel strength (all ranks) of An Garda Síochána made up of the number of attested Gardaí plus recruits in training now stands at a record high of over 14,000. This demonstrates that the commitment in the Agreed Programme for Government to recruit an additional 2,000 members of An Garda Síochána has been met.

The Deputy will appreciate that policing operations and the deployment of Garda resources are matters for the Garda authorities. It is the responsibility of Garda management to allocate personnel to and within divisions on a priority basis in accordance with overall policing requirements.

However, I am, of course, in regular contact with the Garda Commissioner in order to keep the measures and resources for tackling serious crime under continuing review. The overall allocation of Garda resources, including manpower, to the Garda Commissioner reflects the Government's policing priorities (including combating drug trafficking) and An Garda Síochána has never in its history been better resourced.

Furthermore, I can assure the House that drug supply reduction and drug law enforcement remains a key feature of the Government's drug policy framework, our National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008.

In relation to this, An Garda Síochána invokes a number of broad strategic responses in addressing the issue. These include the following;

Identifying, targeting and dismantling national and international drug trafficking networks which supply and distribute illegal drugs within this state

Conducting intelligence driven operations focusing on all aspects of the illicit drugs trade including commodity, logistics, distribution and financing.

Working with other national and international law enforcement agencies on joint actions designed to reduce the availability of drugs and the proceeds derived from the drugs trade

Working in partnership with statutory, community and voluntary groups to reduce both the supply and demand for drugs within society.

The Garda National Drugs Unit (GNDU), in conjunction with other specialist Garda units such as the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Criminal Assets Bureau, continues to undertake "targeted specific" operations against the larger illegal drug importation and distribution operations.

The GNDU also works closely with divisional and district drug units in detecting and preventing the sale and supply of illegal drugs. It provides assistance and expertise to these local units in operational, intelligence and training matters. Divisional and district drug units operate in divisions throughout the country and their primary focus is to target local dealers and users. Where necessary, these resources can be supplemented by other Garda personnel operating at local level. All Gardaí have responsibility, inter alia, to deal with drug related issues as they arise.

There is also targeted patrolling by uniform and plain-clothes personnel of problem areas in order to detect and disrupt persons involved in drugs activity.

In addition, the Organised Crime Unit, established in November 2005, in conjunction with the Garda National Drugs Unit and local Gardaí, continue to implement initiatives such as Operations Anvil and Oak which target criminals involved in the trafficking of drugs.

These operations, which are ongoing, continue to dismantle drug trafficking networks and have led to the arrest in recent times of major criminals both based here and abroad who are involved in the drugs trade and significant drug seizures continue to be made as a result of this work.

Indeed, one of the key performance indicators for our law enforcement authorities under the National Drugs Strategy is to increase drug seizures by 25% by 2004 and 50% by 2008, using the 2000 seizures figures as a baseline and An Garda Síochána continues to achieve considerable successes in relation to this objective.

The trafficking and distribution of all illicit drugs at local, national and international level will continue to be vigilantly monitored by An Garda Síochána.

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