1134. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice the number of incidents of drug-related intimidation reported to gardaí in 2023, by county. [1706/24]

1135. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice the number of arrests made through the Drug-Related Intimidation Reporting Programme in 2023, by county. [1707/24]

Helen McEntee, Minister for Justice: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1134 and 1135 together.

I can assure the Deputy that I am acutely conscious of the devastating impact that illegal drugs and drug dealing have on communities across the country.  

Tackling drug dealing and associated criminal activity, including by organised crime groups and by members of the public who, through their drug taking, fuel this illegal and very harmful trade, is a top priority for An Garda Síochána and the Government.

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 such matters.

An Garda Síochána continues to target those involved in the sale and supply of illegal drugs through a specific operation which is called Operation Tara. This operation has a strong focus on tackling street-level drug dealing across the country. Operation Tara also seeks to disrupt and dismantle the drug trafficking networks that impact on our communities and prosecuting those involved.

The Deputy may also wish to know that the Garda Commissioner has tasked an Inspector in every Garda Division to respond to the issue of drug-related intimidation. There are currently thirty nominated Garda Inspectors appointed to act as liaison officers for the Drug-Related Intimidation Reporting Programme, covering each Garda Division.  

I am informed that for security reasons, and due to the level of anonymity afforded to victims within the Drug-Related Intimidation Reporting Programme, data collected by An Garda Síochána, including the number of arrests related to this programme, must be considered confidential and as such no centralised records are kept. 

The table below, provided by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of incidents of drug related intimidation reported by Garda Division. I am advised that PULSE Incidents are recorded by Garda Region, Division, District, Station, and therefore numbers per Division is the closest match available to numbers per county as requested by the Deputy. It is also worth noting that this information is operational and may be subject to change. 

As the Deputy may already be aware, data is not released by An Garda Síochána for counts less than 10 for data protection reasons.

*Fewer than 10 incidents