Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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16. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of convictions for possession of drugs in each of the years 2015 to 2019 and to date in 2020; and the number of persons referred to the health diversion programme for the same offences over the same period by Garda division. [41662/20]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy may be aware, the Programme for Government commits to a health-led approach to drugs misuse. Substance abuse and addiction affects people from all walks of life. By treating the use of substances as a public health issue, rather than solely as a criminal issue, we can better help individuals, their families, and the communities in which we all live.

The National Drugs Strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery 2017-2025, provides a roadmap to achieving these aims by promoting a more compassionate approach to people who use drugs, with addiction treated firstly as a health issue.

In line with the recommendations of the Working Group to Consider Alternative Approaches to the Possession of Drugs for Personal Use, the previous Minister for Justice, along with the then Minister for Health and Minister of State with responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy, announced the Health Diversion Approach in August 2019.

This approach allows for persons who are found to be in possession of controlled drugs which are, in the opinion of An Garda Síochána, for personal use to be referred to the HSE for a mandatory health screening and brief intervention in the first offence. For a second offence, at the discretion of An Garda Síochána in consultation with the DPP, the option of the issue of an adult caution instead of prosecution will be available.

An implementation, monitoring and evaluation group, chaired by the Department of Health, is implementing the health diversion programme. The Group is developing proposals to commence implementation of the programme on an administrative basis in a number of locations throughout the country in 2021. As outlined in the Programme for Government, a review of the programme will take place following the first full year of implementation, to ensure that it is meeting all of its aims.

I have been advised by the Courts Service that figures relating to convictions as requested cannot be broken down by Garda division as the Courts record data by Court venue. The Courts Service have advised that Section 3 offences for unlawful possession of drugs for the years specified were as follows:

2015 - 2,625

2016 - 3,726

2017 - 3,514

2018 - 4,915

2019 - 4,195

2020 (to end of October) - 3,438

It is important to note that these are the number of convictions secured and that the number of persons convicted differs as multiple charges or appearances in different Court venues are recorded. A report providing a full breakdown of these figures, as well as convictions for other offences relating to possession for sale or supply, will be provided for the Deputy's information.