Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 142: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of drug dealers now in prison or due for release; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13374/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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There are currently 1,079 individuals serving sentences for drugs related offences. The majority of these are sentences arising from prosecution for possession of drugs where the court formed the view that there was an intent to supply. In the case of 777 of these individuals, the drugs related offence represents the only or most serious of the prison sentence(s) they are serving. A further 302 are serving sentences for more serious offences in addition to the drugs offence. All convicted prisoners, other than those sentenced to life imprisonment, are due for release as soon as their sentence expires.