684. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice the steps he will take to deal with the drugs crisis across the country; the numbers available to the drugs units in the Tipperary areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7815/25]

Jim O'Callaghan, Minister for Justice: Tackling drug dealing and targeting the work of organised crime groups, who inflict intimidation, violence and misery on families and communities, is a top priority for the Government and my Department.

A number of key actions have been taken as part of our plan to tackle illegal drug use. This includes:

• Increasing the maximum sentence for conspiracy to murder from 10 years to life in prison to tackle those who direct gangland and drug related crime;
• Enacting new laws to criminalise the grooming of children into a life of crime;
• Drafting new laws which will provide for the use of facial recognition technology in the investigation of certain drug offences
• Rolling out a support programme to break the link between the gangs and the children they try to recruit.

My Department is also working to introduce legislation to further strengthen the State’s ability to seize criminal assets and to target the proceeds of crime. The new Bill will also speed up the process to dispose of seized assets for the benefit of the State.

In addition to the legislative and other measures introduced by my Department, unprecedented funding has been provided to An Garda Síochána which has enabled the Commissioner to assign extra resources to the specialist units involved in tackling organised crime.

This additional investment ensures that An Garda Síochána can continue to target those involved in street-level drug dealing across the country and also focuses on disrupting and dismantling the drug trafficking networks that impact our communities, and prosecuting those involved at every level, through Operation Tara.

The Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau leads in tackling all forms of drug trafficking and the supply of illicit drugs in Ireland. Collaboration at an inter-agency and international level remain key in tackling this issue. Given the global nature of the drugs trade, international law enforcement co-operation is a critical element in the overall response.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that as of 31 December 2024, the latest date for which figures are available, there are currently 18 Garda members attached to the Drugs Unit in Clare/Tipperary Division.