Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 93: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the value of major drugs finds in the State in 2006 came to over €40 million, with a record €25.6 million worth of heroin discovered; his views on whether this is a major increase on the figure for 2005, and demonstrates in stark detail the scale and amount of drugs available here; if such an increase requires a total re-appraisal of drugs schemes and the National Drugs Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7689/07]

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 125: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the steps he will take to deal with the growing epidemic of drug use here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6942/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 129: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his views on the fact that drug seizures made by Gardaí in 2006 have far exceeded targets laid down by the National Drug Strategy according to provisional figures released recently by the Garda National Drugs Unit reflecting a growth in the availability of drugs here and their detection. [7770/07]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 145: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if his attention has been drawn to provisional figures from the Garda National Drugs Unit showing that drug seizures made by Gardaí in 2006 far exceeded targets laid down by the National Drug Strategy; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that by the end of 2006 the number of seizures was over six times ahead of the target expected to be reached by 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7683/07]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 93, 125, 129 and 145 together.

Overall Garda figures for 2006 relating to drugs have yet to be finalised and we must await the annual report of An Garda Síochána for last year before a final judgement can be made on the overall level of seizures across the full range of illicit drugs. However, I am aware that provisional Garda figures indicate that 136kgs of heroin, with an estimated street value of €27.2m, was seized in 2006. This represents an approximate four-fold increase on the volume of seizures in 2005 when 32.28kgs of the drug were seized. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Gárdaí on their success in this regard, and on their significant on-going contribution to disrupting the sale of illegal drugs.

This success reflects a world-wide trend with respect to seizures in that the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) estimated that global seizures accounted for 44% of cocaine production, 28% of cannabis resin, 25% of opium production in 2005. However, we cannot be in any way complacent, especially given the reported significant increase in heroin production in Afghanistan this year and the consequent threat of increased supply that this entails.

The three key performance indicators for the supply reduction pillar of the National Drugs Strategy — as revised under the mid-term review of the Strategy published in 2005 — are to increase by 2008:

the volume of drugs seized by 50%, based on 2000 figures;

the number of seizures by 20%, based on 2004 figures; and

the number of supply detections by 20%, based on 2004 figures,

With respect to the volume of drugs seized across the three main categories of illicit drugs — heroin, cocaine and cannabis — Garda figures to the end of 2005 show increases of 35%, 1,174% and 1,548% respectively over the levels of seizures in 2000.

With respect to both the number of seizures and the number of supply detections, no data is yet available for 2006. However, in 2005, the overall number of seizures increased by 14% (from 5,299 to 6,046) while the number of supply detections increased by 21% (from 1,600 to 1,928) over the numbers recorded for 2004. Clearly, most performance indicators with respect to supply reduction have been or are in the process of being met.

However, the nature of any relationship between the level of drugs seizures and the prevalence of drug usage is extremely difficult to determine. Our most recent comprehensive data in this regard comes from the all island Drug Prevalence Survey 2002/2003. Field-work for the second such survey is currently in progress and will be completed in April 2007, with first reports becoming available in the autumn. While the most recent data on heroin use in Ireland comes from a study published in 2004, the Deputies should note that a similar study is to be commissioned in 2007. When completed, these studies will give us a much clearer view of the prevalence and changing nature of drug misuse in Ireland.

At my request, the National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD) and the National Drug Strategy Team (NDST) recently prepared a joint briefing paper on cocaine, based on existing data in Ireland. The paper, which is due to be published next week, concluded that all data sources indicated an upward trend in cocaine use. A number of recommendations are made in the paper, principally in regard to treatment, but also covering supply, prevention and research and these are being followed up with the relevant Departments and agencies.

I believe that there are encouraging signs of progress over the past couple of years — be it in the areas of drug seizures, the expansion and success of treatment services, the development of prevention programmes in schools, the expanding work of Local and Regional Drug Task Forces and the valuable work being done through the Young Peoples Facility & Services Fund.

Finally, in regard to the resources available to tackle drug misuse, I am delighted to have secured a 16% increase in my Department's funding to tackle drug misuse in 2007, especially as it follows on from very significant increases in the previous two years. The allocation of €50m shows an increase of 87% on the corresponding figure for 2004. The significantly increased figure clearly illustrates, I believe, the importance that the Government places on tackling the drugs problem across the country. Furthermore, the overall allocation by the Government across a number of Departments to tackle the drugs problem in 2007 will be well in excess of €200m.