Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 151: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on spending a day with a Garda drug unit in order to gain a real life experience of the problem of drugs in this State and a realisation of the deficiencies in the resources allocated to An Garda Síochána. [9080/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Drug misuse remains one of the most complex social ills faced globally and the Government is fully aware of, and does not in any sense, underestimate the nature and extent of the problem of drugs which we experience in this State.

The Government remains resolutely committed to tackling the problem through our current 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.

Our drug law enforcement response is of course a vital feature of our overall response in addressing the issue but we cannot just look at the issue from a supply reduction perspective only.

Rather, we must examine the drugs problem in the wider context in which it takes place and take cognisance of the fact that the demand for and the use of illegal drugs is what fuels the drugs trade. The measures that we have in place to address the problem must take account of this.

The Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, under the stewardship of my colleague and Minister of State Mr. Pat Carey, T.D., is the lead Government Department in co-ordinating the implementation of the National Drugs Strategy and has recently begun the process of developing our new Strategy for the years 2009-2016.

As Minister, as well as in my capacity as public representative, I am well aware of the challenges which tackling the trade in drugs poses for An Garda Síochána.

Specifically, 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. The total strength of the Divisional Drug Units at the beginning of the year was 314.

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.

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 Deputy that I will continue to keep the measures and resources for tackling all forms of drug trafficking 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.