Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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1411. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if additional resources will be provided to deal with the scourge of street dealing in illicit drugs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41090/21]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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1412. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her views on a programme (details supplied) that was broadcast on 20 July 2021 in respect of several open drugs markets operating in Ballymun, Dublin 11; and the number of drugs gardaí working in the Ballymun area specifically [41284/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1411 and 1412 together.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible by law for the management of An Garda Síochána, including operational matters and deployment of resources.  As Minister, I have no responsibility for these matters.

The response to the issue of drug dealing is complex and extends far beyond policing. This broader, health led response is key to the National Drugs Strategy, ‘Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery’, which is being led by my colleague Minister Frank Feighan. Gardaí work closely with local authorities, HSE, NGOs, community groups and other state agencies to tackle the problems of drug addiction and abuse.

At a national level, the Commissioner launched Operation Tara on 2 July 2021 to disrupt, dismantle and prosecute drug trafficking networks at all levels - international, national and local - involved in the importation, distribution, cultivation, production, local sale and supply of controlled drugs.

The level of open drug dealing shown on the programme mentioned is unacceptable and highlights the damage which such activity causes to communities as a whole. 

I understand that the issue of open drug dealing in Ballymun, as well as the Safer Ballymun Plan and the ‘A Brighter Future’ report were discussed at the most recent Northwest Area Joint Policing Committee meeting held on 21 June.

From a policing perspective, I am informed by An Garda Síochána that both the Divisional Drugs Unit and the Street Crime Unit in DMR North have had their resources increased by 25% in recent months and that the Superintendent in Ballymun station introduced a specific operation in mid-May to target street level dealing in Ballymun. These operations take the form of both overt high visibility policing and covert operations targeting street-level and organised drug dealing. There have also been several high profile drug seizures and arrests in the area over recent months.

As of 30 June, there are 29 Garda members attached the DMR North drugs unit, which Ballymun is part of. There are 263 Gardaí assigned to Ballymun district, an increase of almost 16% since 2015 when there were 227 members assigned to the district. In addition, there are currently 67 Garda staff (civilians) assigned to DMR North Division as a whole, an increase of over 52% since 2015.

A number of days of action have been conducted in the DMR North Division this year and a number of suspects have been arrested in relation to drugs related intimidation incidents. I understand that a number of persons are currently before the courts and files are currently with the Director of Public Prosecutions in relation to other persons.