Bernard Allen
Question:42 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if his Department has carried out an evaluation of the national drugs strategy programme; and if he will introduce changes in the programme. [11518/00]
Written Answers. - National Drugs Strategy.
Proinsias De Rossa
Question:66 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the way in which it is intended to review and evaluate the operation of the National Drugs Strategy in view of the commitment in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11482/00]
Pat Rabbitte
Question:73 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if the review of the National Drugs Strategy has been brought to the Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion and Drugs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11695/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 42, 66 and 73 together.
The Programme for Prosperity and Fairness provides that the national drugs strategy will be reviewed and evaluated within the lifetime of the programme. The Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion and Drugs will, as part of its ongoing work programme, be involved in overseeing the review.
The objective of the review is to identify any gaps or deficiencies in the existing strategy, develop revised strategies and, if necessary, new arrangements through which to deliver them. The review will identify the latest available data on the extent and nature of problem drug use in the country as a whole, any emerging trends in drug use and the areas with the greatest level of problem drug use. It will also examine international trends, developments and best practice models.
The process of reviewing the strategy has commenced and advertisements inviting submissions from individuals and groups were placed in last Sunday's newspapers, yesterday's daily papers and in local papers in the major urban areas. All State agencies involved in the provision of services in this area will also be requested to make submissions to the review group. In addition, it is intended to hold a number of public consultative fora during June, at dates and locations to be arranged. It is intended to have the review completed by year end.
The review will have available to it an evaluation of the drugs Initiative by independent consultants including the results of individual evaluations of nearly 150 local drugs task force projects currently under way.
Jim O'Keeffe
Question:43 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the plans, if any, he has to extend countrywide the local drugs task forces which are presently confined to Dublin and Cork city in view of the recent evidence of drug use throughout rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11507/00]
Michael Bell
Question:51 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the specific proposals he has for the allocation of funding to urban areas outside of the drugs task force areas where an emerging drug problem is evident in view of the commitment given in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11478/00]
John Bruton
Question:60 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation when special arrangements will be made, in accordance with the commitment given in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness, to provide funding to deal with the drug problem in urban areas outside the local task force areas where an emerging drugs problem is evident; and the areas being considered in view of this commitment. [8695/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 43, 51 and 60 together.
The local drugs task forces were set up in disadvantaged areas experiencing the highest levels of illicit drug use, particularly heroin abuse. While the use of illicit drugs is a nationwide phenomenon, heroin abuse presents particular problems because of its public health implications and close association with crime.
In determining the designation of the task force areas, therefore, the focus has been on those areas which have a high incidence of heroin abuse. The criteria used for determining such areas are: drug treatment data from the health services; Garda crime statistics; data relating to school attendance-drop-out; and other relevant data on the levels of social and economic disadvantage in the area. Based on these criteria, there are 14 local drugs task forces in existence. In addition, a number of health boards have regional co-ordinating committees for their areas.
Under the young people's facilities and services fund, the Government has allocated in excess of £35 million over three years to support over 350 projects as part of area-based strategies and national initiatives in the area of drug prevention. This fund is aimed at diverting "at risk" young people away from drug use into more healthy and productive pursuits. While the main focus of the fund has been on the local drugs task force areas, funding was also earmarked to support locally developed drug prevention strategies in the urban areas of south Cork city, Galway, Waterford, Limerick, Bray and Carlow. These areas were identified as areas where a significant drug problem exists or has the potential to develop. Recog nising the need to tackle drug misuse on a national basis, funding was also allocated under the fund to seven nationwide initiatives which are designed to inform and raise awareness of the dangers of drug misuse, particularly through peer education.
In addition, the National Development Plan 2000-2006 commits significant levels of funding towards drug prevention measures in both the south east and the BMW regions.
This funding will be targeted at interventions aimed at young people who are involved or at risk of becoming involved in drug misuse. It will offer these "at risk" young people alternatives to substance abuse through the development of facilities, programmes and services relevant to their needs.
The type of actions envisaged include activities and educational programmes for young people who have traditionally found themselves outside the scope of mainstream youth work, due either to their family circumstances, involvement with crime or drugs, or their lack of formal education. The plan will also provide community-based prevention programmes, such as early school leaving projects, the development of sports or leisure facilities and activities, family support programmes, along with other recreational activities such as art, drama and music. The detailed measures within the plan which will provide for drug prevention and education initiatives are currently being finalised with the Department of Finance. An overall review of the overall national drugs strategy is now under way. Its objective is to review the current strategy, identify any gaps or deficiencies and develop revised policies and, if necessary, arrangements through which to deliver them.
A key element of this review will be to identify the areas with the highest levels of drug misuse, based on the best available data on drug misuse throughout the country as a whole. The review will take account of the measures being undertaken to tackle drug misuse and the adequacy of these responses in the light of emerging trends in drug misuse nationally, with a view to making recommendations to Government on future drugs policy.