Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 95: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the recent increase in the amount of heroin being seized in view of the fact that this is an indication of the increase in the amount of heroin making it into the market here; and his further views on whether the Garda have sufficient resources and are giving sufficient priority to tackling the supply of heroin. [9003/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Consideration of the issue of heroin misuse in Ireland needs to take place in the global context within which such misuse takes place.

The United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime estimates that 90% of the heroin which is consumed in the European Union originates from Afghanistan. The sharp increase both in cultivation and production of illicit opium poppy in Afghanistan, which in 2007, recorded its highest level ever continues to result in an increasing supply of the drug being available right across the European Union, including in Ireland. This development is reflected in the increasing level of seizures of the drugs which have been made by An Garda Síochána here in recent times.

I have been informed by the Garda authorities that An Garda Síochána seized approximately 128 kg of the drug in 2006, 125 kg of the drug in 2007 and that approximately 49 kg of the drug has already been seized for this year for the period January 1 to February 13, inclusive. I am advised that these statistics for 2007 and 2008 are provisional pending the publication of the Garda Annual Reports for the years in question.

Undoubtedly these are very significant volumes of the drug which have been seized by An Garda Síochána. In monetary terms this equates to heroin with a street value of approximately €60.5m being captured by the Gardaí and I warmly commend their ongoing work in this regard.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that this increasing level of heroin seizures is as a result of ongoing and intelligence-led operations specifically targeting those suspected of involvement in the importation and distribution of illegal drugs and that these operations have led to a number of very significant arrests in recent times of those involved in the drugs trade.

Of course this is an ongoing work in progress and the Government fully acknowledges that tackling the problem of drug trafficking remains an ongoing challenge to be faced with vigilance.

In terms of resources, as the Deputy will appreciate, policing operations and the deployment of Garda resources are matters for the Garda Commissioner. It is and must remain the responsibility of Garda management to allocate personnel within the Garda organisation on a priority basis in accordance with overall policing requirements.

The Garda National Drugs Unit is the primary unit within An Garda Síochána charged with responsibility for drug supply law enforcement. As at 31 January 2008 the personnel strength of the Unit was 65.

Since the publication of the Government's National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008, Garda resources in the fight against illicit drugs have increased. This is particularly evident with the creation of additional Divisional Drug Units in areas of particular need. These Drugs Units operate in Divisions throughout the country with a primary focus on local drugs activities.

Both the Garda National Drugs Unit and the Divisional units are also supported in their work by officers from other national units such as the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Criminal Assets Bureau and the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation. Furthermore, all Gardaí are tasked with confronting drugs related issues as they arise.

The assignment of Garda personnel throughout the country, together with overall policing arrangements and operational strategy, are continually monitored and reviewed. This takes place against the background of the unprecedented expansion of An Garda Síochána which has taken and will continue to take place increasing the overall strength of the Gardaí to 16,000. Additional Garda resources are coming on stream all the time, These additional human resources will facilitate the Garda Commissioner in the allocation of additional manpower to areas most in need, including areas with a significant drug problem.

Finally, I can assure the House that I will continue to keep the measures and resources for tackling all forms of drug trafficking, including the trafficking of heroin, under review. The enforcement of the law relating to drugs continues to be a key element in the Government's policing priorities and this is reflected in An Garda Síochána's Policing Plan for 2008.