Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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585. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the volume and value of heroin seizures in Galway city and county in each of the years 2014 to 2016 and to date in 2017; and the measures being taken to address this issue. [36526/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I can advise that all members of An Garda Síochána are tasked with enforcing drug-related legislation. The Divisional Drug Unit based at Galway Garda Station has undertaken a number of significant and successful initiatives to monitor and counteract the sale, supply and distribution of drugs, including heroin. These include an intelligence-led initiative to monitor heroin use within the Galway Division, covering both the City and County, which resulted in the identification of a number of heroin dealers who were targeted for the purpose of law enforcement.

As part of this initiative, a number of significant seizures of heroin were recorded and the main heroin dealers in the Division were arrested and brought before the Courts. The details of heroin drug seizures recorded for the Galway Garda Division, provided by Forensic Science Ireland to An Garda Síochána, for each year for the period 2014- 2016 are provided in the table beneath:

*Note:- The data provided is provisional, operational and liable to change and is valid to Friday, 21 July 2017. The estimated street value of the drugs seized is based on instructions issued by the Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau in 2012 and amended in 2015

An initiative under "Operation Clean Street", which targets on-street dealers, was put in place by the Divisional Drug Unit in conjunction with the National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau. This resulted in the arrest and charging of several persons for the offence of possession of drugs for sale or supply on city streets within the Galway Division. An Garda Síochána within the Galway Division work closely with the Western Region Drug and Alcohol Task Force, through education and other programmes, to reduce demand for heroin and other controlled substances, and offer advice and practical assistance to users and family members effected by drug use.

Garda Management within the Galway Division is aware of the impact of the use and sale / distribution of drugs in the Division on families and communities, including the impact of drug-related intimidation of users and their families. The Divisional Drug Unit and all Garda personnel monitor the use of drugs, including heroin, throughout the Division and continue to enforce all relevant legislation to the fullest, including searches of persons, property and vehicles.

Nationally, a new National Drugs Strategy, “Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery” 2017 – 2025 has been launched by the Taoiseach this month. The Minister of State for Health Promotion and the National Drugs Strategy, Deputy Catherine Byrne, has responsibility in leading the Government's health-led response outlined in the strategy to addressing the harm caused by substance misuse in our society over the next eight years.