Labour's justice spokesman, Joe Costello, has called for money seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau from drug dealers to be channelled back into communities affected by drugs.
Mr Costello said that figures revealed today that demonstrate that the illegal drugs trade is now a €1 billion per year industry, demand an entirely new strategy from the Government especially towards cocaine and other 'fashionable' drugs.
Joe Costello, Labour Party
"These figures clearly show that our streets and communities are awash with drugs. Cocaine, in particular, has now become the main hard drug in Ireland - one that is not confined to any particular social class or geographical area.
Mr Costello also criticised the approved funding of €400,000 for the establishment of four pilot treatment interventions for 2005.
"€400,000 for pilot initiatives will not have the slightest impact on this rapidly expanding multi-billion illegal drug industry.
He said it had been the intention of the Proceeds Of Crime Act, 1996, to put money seized from drug dealers back into the community and this would "strike more of a chord" in communities adversely affected by illegal drugs than the pilot initiatives.
While channelling proceeds of drug crime back into the community is not written into the Act, Mr Costello said the "Minister [for Finance] could do this with a wave of his wand or we could just make a small amendment to the Proceeds Of Crime Act".
Under the Act, money or assets seized must be frozen for seven years before being released into the Exchequer to give time for any appeals and due process to be completed.