asked the Minister for Health if he will make a statement indicating the measures being applied by the Government to counter drug addiction in the Dublin area and the progress of such measures.
Written Answers. - Drug Abuse Prevention Programme.
30.
I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 55 of 28 November 1985 in which I outlined the steps which had been taken to implement the recommendations of the Special Governmental Task Force on Drug Abuse at that time. These are, in effect, the measures being applied by the Government to counter drug addiction. The following is an outline of the progress which has been made in this area since my reply of 28 November 1985.
On the Law Enforcement side, my Department, in consultation with the Attorney General's Office, is examining the possibility of introducing new legislation which would provide for the seizure and confiscation of the assets of drug traffickers. In the area of customs control the arrangements at local level have been reviewed and strengthened in order to focus more directly on the importation of illicit drugs. An ad-hoc group of local managers has been set up to facilitate the exchange of information on drug-related matters. The drugs unit attached to the investigation branch has been strengthened and the provision of futher detection equipment is being actively pursued.
On the education side, the Health Education Bureau have recently produced a resource pack on substance abuse in conjunction with the National Youth Council of Ireland. The bureau funded the production of 1,000 copies of this pack which have already been distributed, mostly through training courses for youth leaders, and are currently funding a reprint. This drug education-training programme is available to all youth groups through the National Youth Council. The bureau plans to fund a more extensive training programme for youth leaders during this year and are awaiting a detailed submission from the National Youth Council in this regard.
The bureau, in conjunction with the Department of Education, have organised a further summer course for teachers on drug education to be held in July of this year. They have also continued their training programme for teachers in health education (including drug education). Approximately 1,600 teachers have been through this training programme to-date and much of the activity in this area is focused on "at risk" urban areas.
In relation to rehabilitation facilities, I was very glad to be able to make additional funds available to Coolemine Therapeutic Community to enable it to expand its induction centre in Lord Edward Street. This building has now been completely refurbished and this has facilitated an expansion in the range of activities provided there. Coolemine House, which was officially opened in March of this year, now accommodates an induction programme, a day programme, a family association, parents resource groups and a prevention programme. It also acts as the administration centre for the community.
In the area of youth services development, the Government's National Youth Policy was published on 30 December 1985 under the title In Partnership With Youth and future action on the prevention of drug abuse in this area will be taken in the context of that policy.
The National Co-ordinating Committee on Drug Abuse has continued to meet on a regular basis and to monitor the implementation of the task force's recommendations. The committee will be presenting their first annual report to me within the next few weeks.