Gay Mitchell (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 308: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on whether cocaine is being used as casually and widely as is claimed in a newspaper article of 14 January 2007 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1577/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I am informed that currently, the joint Prevalence Survey undertaken in partnership between the National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD — Republic of Ireland) and the Drugs and Alcohol Information and Research Unit (DAIRU — Northern Ireland) is generally regarded as the most reliable baseline data on drug prevalence in Ireland.

That study, which surveyed 8,442 people aged 15-64 in Ireland and in Northern Ireland between October 2002 and April 2003, reported that 3.1% of the population had ever used cocaine, 1.1% had used it in the last 12 months and 0.3% used in the last month.

However, the Government is of course aware that all available indicators point to an increased prevalence of cocaine usage in recent times. More detailed evidence on the current cocaine situation will arise from the all island Drug Prevalence Survey 2006/07 being conducted by the National Advisory Committee on Drugs, which is in progress at present. This study will give a clearer picture of the current levels of usage of cocaine.

The Government remains resolutely committed to tackling the problem through our National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008.

The National Strategy addresses the problem under pillar headings of education and prevention, supply reduction, treatment and rehabilitation and research and is firmly founded on the principle that drug misuse needs to be addressed in an integrated manner across these headings through a co-operative approach involving the statutory, community and voluntary treatment sectors.

The Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, under the stewardship of my colleague, Minister of State Mr. Noel Ahern, is the lead Government Department in co-ordinating the implementation of the National Drugs Strategy.

Efforts to tackle the problem of cocaine use are broadly based to include measures aimed at both supply and demand reduction, including awareness initiatives.

My Department's remit in this area, while not exclusively, is primarily in the area of drug supply reduction and drug law enforcement remains a key feature of the Government's drug policy framework.

Evidence of increasing misuse of any drug is, of course, a matter of concern and the Garda authorities continue to take a number of measures to address the problem on the supply reduction side.

The Garda National Drugs Unit and local drugs units conduct intelligence-driven operations to target individuals suspected of involvement in the distribution of cocaine. Drug units and community policing personnel are engaged in intelligence gathering on individuals and groups suspected of involvement in the sale and distribution of the drug. There is also targeted patrolling by uniform and plain-clothes personnel of problem areas in order to detect and disrupt persons involved in such activity.

Tackling organised crime and drug trafficking is primarily achieved through the use of specialist units and targeted intelligence led operations.

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

Significant drug seizures including the considerable increase in the amount of cocaine seized over the last number of years have been made as a result of these operations.

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

The record level of resources, both in financial and personnel terms, being made available to An Garda Síochána this year is 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.

Furthermore we are ensuring that our law enforcement agencies have a strong legislative platform from which to operate in their work tackling those involved in such criminal activity.

While our legislative package for tackling drug trafficking is already viewed as being one of the most stringent in Europe, the Criminal Justice Act 2006 provides for further measures which will enhance the powers of the Gardaí in the investigation and prosecution of drug offences.

Finally, I can assure the Deputy that my colleague Minister of State, Mr. Noel Ahern T.D., is fully aware of the issue of cocaine in our society and recently commissioned a joint briefing paper on the issue from the National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD) and the National Drug Strategy Team (NDST). He is currently in consultation with the Departments and Agencies involved on the issues raised and the recommendations made in that paper.