Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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39. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if, in view of the increasing prevalence of drugs throughout urban and rural Ireland, additional measures will be introduced to deal with the scourge of such illegal products, taking into account the awful damage and hardship being inflicted on individuals, families and communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36643/25]

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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Tackling the scourge of drug dealing and targeting the work of organised crime groups, who inflict intimidation, violence and misery on families and communities in rural Ireland is a top priority for the Government and my Department.

The Government is fully committed to providing An Garda Síochána with the resources it needs to fight crime. This is reflected in the unprecedented allocation of over €2.48 billion in Budget 2025, a 27% increase since 2020.

An Garda Síochána continue to implement the enhanced national anti-drugs strategy in Operation Tara, the focus of which is 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.

As part of Operation Tara and ongoing investigations targeting the sale and distribution of controlled drugs and associated criminal activity in the Southern Region, Gardaí from the Kerry Divisional Drugs Unit and local Crime Unit have seized a significant quantity of drugs and arrested one male during an operation carried out in County Kerry on Friday, 13 June 2025.

In addition, earlier this week Gardaí seized an estimated €35m worth of cocaine off the coast of Cork. Four men were also arrested as part of this operation.

The Garda Commissioner has tasked an Inspector in every Garda Division to respond to the issue of drug-related intimidation. This programme has been developed to respond to the needs of drug users and family members experiencing drug related intimidation. Information in relation to the Drug-Related Intimidation Reporting Programme and a list of the nominated Inspectors countrywide is available on the Garda website.

In dealing with any complaint of drug-related intimidation or advice sought in relation to this issue, An Garda Síochána will do so with the utmost safety in order to afford the person or family subject to the threat of the best level of security, advice and support which can be offered.

The Department of Health leads on Government policy in the area of drugs, and this policy is guided by the whole of Government national drugs and alcohol strategy which sets out a health-led response to drug and alcohol use. The implementation of the strategy is led by my colleague, the Minister for Health, however, the strategy includes actions for all stakeholders, including my Department and An Garda Síochána.

The strategy recognises the need for a balanced health-led approach - reducing demand, while also reducing access to illegal drugs, and is aimed at reducing the number of people criminalised for the possession of drugs for personal use. While this strategy supports vulnerable people who use drugs, it is also matched with strengthened enforcement measures across government to tackle the supply of illegal drugs. Sustained action by An Garda Síochána has continued unabated throughout and since the pandemic, bringing significant convictions and ongoing seizures of drugs, firearms and ammunition.

In May, alongside Minister of State with responsibility for Public Health, Well Being and the National Drugs Strategy, Minister O' Callaghan launched the DRIVE (Drug related intimidation & violence engagement) project. DRIVE’s primary goal is to establish effective systems and structures for a unified, timely, and sensitive response to drug-related intimidation. It focuses on responding to incidents, supporting those affected, and preventing future occurrences.

DRIVE promotes interagency collaboration by bringing together law enforcement, health services, social services, and community organisations to tackle Drug Related Intimidation from multiple perspectives. It operates on a national scale across Ireland, ensuring consistent and comprehensive support in all regions.

Additionally, community safety is a top priority for my Department, as everyone has the right to be safe and feel safe in their communities, both rural and urban. A central principle of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 is that to achieve this, we require multi-agency cooperation working in partnership with An Garda Síochána and, most importantly with rural communities themselves. The Act provides for the establishment of these national structures, central to which are Local Community Safety Partnerships which will operate in each local authority to meet specific local needs.