Seán Haughey
Question:81 Mr. Haughey asked the Taoiseach if he will give details of the 12 areas in Dublin where local drugs task forces are being established under the Drugs Initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5272/97]
Written Answers - Local Drugs Task Forces.
Local drugs task forces are being established in the following areas: Dublin north inner city; Dublin south inner city; Ballymun; Coolock-Darndale; Finglas-Cabra; Blanchardstown; Rialto-Inchicore; Ballyfermot; Crumlin; Tallaght; Clondalkin; Dún Laoghaire; and north Cork city.
Statistics produced by the Health Research Board on the areas of residence of persons receiving treatment for drug misuse in 1995 and the views expressed by statutory, voluntary and community organisations working with drug misusers suggest that drug misuse is closely associated with social and economic disadvantage, characterised by high levels of unemployment, poor living conditions, low educational attainment, family breakdown and a lack of recreational facilities and other supports. The areas where the task forces are being established in Dublin correspond directly with those areas designated, on the basis of objective criteria, as being economically and social disadvantaged under the Operational Programme for Local Urban and Rural Development 1994-99.
As the Minister of State to the Government, Deputy Rabbitte mentioned in a reply to a Dáil question on 19 February last, the task forces — comprising representatives of the statutory, voluntary and community sectors — will pull together the resources that are already available in these sectors to produce a more focused response to the drugs issue in the targeted areas, in terms of treatment, rehabilitation and prevention. The Government has set aside funding of £10 million to support the implementation of development plans which the task forces have been mandated to prepare, to build on existing programmes and services available in these areas.