Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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Question 621: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide in tabular form the total number of arrests by county for drug dealing of prescription drugs over the past five years including the first half of 2012; the volume; estimated value and the types of prescriptions drugs seized; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36805/12]

Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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Question 622: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide in tabular form the total number of arrests by county for drug dealing over the past five years including the first half of 2012; the volume; estimated value and the types of drugs seized; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36806/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 621 and 622 together.

Set out in the tables below is the most recently available data, as provided by the Garda authorities, in relation to the information requested.

The tables show the total number of recorded incidents and arrests in relation to offences under section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 and 1984 (illegal sale or supply offences) by Garda Division and for the period 1 January 2007 to 31 March 2012 inclusive.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that it is not possible to isolate the incidents and arrests relating to the illegal sale of prescription drugs from those relating to drug dealing of non-prescription drugs from the recorded data on the PULSE system. To do so would necessitate a disproportionate expenditure of Garda time and resources to conduct an examination of each incident in every Garda Division recorded on that system.

With regard to the volume, estimated values and type of drug seized, including prescription drugs, the available data in this regard is set out in the Annual Reports of An Garda Síochána. While not all of the information requested has traditionally been recorded in the Annual Reports, the Deputy will note that as of 2011 the volume, estimated value and type of drug have been recorded. The Annual Reports of An Garda Síochána are available at www.garda.ie.

Number of incidents in relation to offences under Section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Acts 1977 and 1984 (recorded on a Garda Divisional basis for the period 1 January 2007 - 31 March 2012 inclusive)*

*Figures provided are operational and liable to change and are correct as at June 5th 2012

Number of arrests made by An Garda Síochána in relation to offences under Section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Acts 1977 and 1984 (recorded on a Garda Divisional basis for the period 1 January 2007 - 31 March 2012 inclusive)*

*Figures provided are provisional, operational and liable to change and are correct as at June 5th 2012.