400. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons arrested for drug offences in each of the past ten years and to date in 2023 and if a breakdown can be provided by the type of offence. [45269/23]

401. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons arrested for drug offences in County Wexford, in each of the past ten years and to date in 2023; and if a breakdown can be provided by the type of offence. [45270/23]

Helen McEntee, Minister for Justice: I propose to take Questions Nos. 400 and 401 together.

The Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs, which is reflected in an allocation of €2.31 billion under Budget 2024, up 23 per cent since 2020.

As the Deputy will be aware, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including all operational policing matters. As Minister, I have no role in these matters, nor can I direct the Commissioner with regard to them.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the table attached sets out the number of people arrested for drug offences in each of the past ten years and to date in 2023, in tabular form. This data was taken from PULSE and is correct to 14 October 2023. The table also includes the number of people arrested for drug offences in each of the past ten years and to date in 2023 in county Wexford, as requested by the Deputy.

As the Deputy will also be aware, the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the compilation and publication of all crime statistics. This includes statistics for the drug offences including controlled drug offences, driving/in charge of a vehicle under the influence of drugs, importation of drugs, cultivation or manufacture of drugs, possession of drugs for sale or supply and possession of drugs for personal use.

The CSO produces these statistics using data recorded on An Garda Síochána’s PULSE system and makes regular releases under reservation in relation to various crime statistics. The CSO also continues to work with An Garda Síochána to address quality issues in the underlying sources used to compile the statistics.

Figures in respect of drugs offences can be found on the CSO website at the link below:

data.cso.ie/table/CJQ06

Custody Logs

Question No. 401 answered with Question No. 400.