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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 5 Nov 1981

Vol. 330 No. 8

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Drug Abuse.

20.

(Dublin North-West) asked the Minister for Health if she intends to amend the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1977.

The provisions of the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1977, are currently under examination in my Department. If necessary, amending legislation will be put before the Oireachtas when this examination has been completed.

(Dublin North-West): When is the review expected to be completed and when it is completed will the Minister consider the setting up of a special committee of this House in the event of amending legislation being considered necessary for the purpose of studying such amendments as happened when the previous legislation was enacted?

I have not considered the request by the Deputy for the setting up of a committee to deal with this very serious problem. While I share his concern in that regard, I wish to inform him that, following a communication from the Attorney General to the Minister, the Act is being reviewed and discussed with the Garda and with the Director of Public Prosecutions. Amending legislation will be introduced in the Dáil as early as possible but I cannot give the Deputy any indication of when that might be.

(Dublin North-West): Is the Minister aware that the longest sentence for a drug pusher, who himself was free of drug abuse, has been one year and two months and that there is widespread concern among parents, particularly those of schoolgoing children, because of the amazing inefficiency of the Act? The widespread misuse of drugs has reached crisis proportions.

I am fully aware of that and it is because of the inadequacies of the Act that the Attorney General took steps to have the situation brought before the proper authorities. As I have said, discussions in that regard are taking place. I am only too well aware of the seriousness of the problem. As far as I am concerned no delay will occur until such time as the amending legislation is brought before the House. I am sorry I cannot give the Deputy a more definitive answer as to when, but I will consider the point he has mentioned about the committee.

21.

(Dublin North-West) asked the Minister for Health the plans, if any, that exists for the extension of medical treatment for drug abusers in each health board area.

I am at present considering a number of outline proposals which are before my Department for the extension and improvement of services for the medical treatment of drug abusers. These proposals will require development as to detail before I can arrive at any conclusion in respect of them.

(Dublin North-West): Is the Minister satisfied at present, in regard to the treatment of drug abuse, with the facilities that are available in this country, bearing in mind that there is only one drug treatment centre and that is the one at Jervis Street? This is grossly overcrowded due to the massive increase in attendance there and the directors of the centre have indicated that the treatment facilities at present are totally inadequate for the number of people attending who are suffering from the abuse of drugs.

If the Deputy's question is whether I am satisfied with the facilities available, the answer is no. I am having the matter examined. As the Deputy is aware, there is more than one centre for dealing with the problem.

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