Vol. 426 No. 6
147 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the public concern at the perceived escalating increase in drug abuse in the Dublin area and the consequence of this; if he will give details of the drug treatment/preventative programmes; and if he has satisfied himself that these programmes are helping to address the problem.
My attention has been drawn to recent statements regarding drug abuse in the Dublin area. In this regard, my Department recently held a series of meetings with the Garda and the drug treatment services to assess the current position. The matter was also examined on 10 February 1993 by the National Co-ordinating Committee on Drug Abuse, which is chaired by my colleague, Deputy Willie O'Dea, Minister of State. Following the meeting, the chairman and the committee have undertaken to identify gaps in legislation which need to be remedied to strengthen the powers of the Garda and the Customs Service.
My Department, in conjunction with other State agencies and voluntary bodies, has in place a wide range of drug treatment and preventative strategies which are the subject of regular review. These are being implemented under the Government's strategy to prevent drug misuse. Recently strategies to combat drug abuse have taken on another dimension due to the large number of persons who have become infected with HIV/AIDS as a result of sharing needles which have been contaminated with the HIV virus. Consequently many of the services cater for both HIV/AIDS infected individuals as well as drug abusers.
The range of services is provided by the following agencies: the regional health boards, the Drug Treatment Centre, Trinity Court, Dublin 2, Outreach projects, drug addiction counsellors, non-statutory agencies and individual GP services.
