Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 487: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the Programme for Government to increase Garda search powers in relation to drug crime along the lines of the new random breath-testing model for drink driving to allow random searches at particular places, times and events. [19315/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I refer to the replies to Question Nos. 9121/08 and 14079/08 of 4 March and 17 April 2008 respectively. The position is unchanged.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 488: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the Programme for Government to support targeted Garda anti-drug use programmes in schools and third level institutions. [19316/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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An Garda Síochána currently delivers both Primary and Secondary School Programmes throughout the country which include a focus on drugs education. The Garda Secondary School Programme has been designed in conjunction with the Social Personal & Health Education (SPHE) syllabus of the Department of Education & Science. This SPHE syllabus supports the personal development, health and well being of young people and helps them to create and maintain supportive relationships. Through this Garda programme, trained Gardaí facilitate classes as part of the SPHE course at Junior cycle in modules which focus on substance misuse issues. In addition, at primary level, An Garda Síochána also delivers a comprehensive education programme for 5th class pupils throughout the country through the Garda Primary Schools initiative which includes modules on drugs education.

The Government is fully supportive of these initiatives and the issue of the further appropriate development of targeted Garda anti-drug use programmes in schools and third level institutions is one which will be considered in the context of the new National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016 which is currently being developed under the remit of the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 489: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the Programme for Government to expand the Criminal Assets Bureau operational presence in each Garda division with the introduction of additional criminal assets profilers and CAB liaison officers in each Garda division. [19317/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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In relation to the issue of the Criminal Asset Bureau's work at regional and local levels, I can inform the Deputy that in order to maximise the benefit that can be derived from local knowledge, officers from the Criminal Assets Bureau work closely with Gardai from specific regions and localities in order to ensure that the efforts of the Bureau are targeted in the most effective manner possible. As you may also know, my colleague and predecessor as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr. Brian Lenihan T.D. , has also already included in the Government's policing priorities for 2008 for An Garda Síochána a specific reference to enhanced liaison arrangements between Garda Divisions and the Criminal Assets Bureau in the pursuit of those engaged in drug dealing at all levels.

The Bureau will continue to utilise the services of Divisional Criminal Assets Profilers throughout the country and profilers are now in place in all Garda Divisions across the country. At present eighty one Garda divisional profilers have been appointed and are operational and the complement of Divisional profilers will continue to be monitored and reviewed on an on-going basis. In addition, eleven officials from the Revenue Commissioners have been trained as asset profilers. The use of local Garda officers in this way ensures that preparatory groundwork can be carried out in advance of a full investigation by the Bureau. Asset profilers have at all times recourse to the expertise and advice of the Bureau. Essentially a key function of these profilers is to ascertain and build up information at local levels and point out individuals at whom the Bureau's work can be targeted. Such information is then investigated and followed up further by the Criminal Assets Bureau.