Vol. 557 No. 2
255 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform further to Questions Nos. 203 to 209 of 6 November 2002, if he will provide comprehensive replies in each of those questions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21824/02]
I share the Deputy's concern about the serious issue of substance abuse and the need to ensure that the public, particularly young people, are made aware of the scale and scope of the problems of drug and drink abuse. The Government's responses to these problems are comprehensive. Data relating to drugs possession offences and seizures are contained in the annual reports of the Garda Síochána, copies of which have been placed in the Oireachtas Library. If the Garda authorities are asked to compile statistical information which is not readily available in the annual reports, however, the deployment of special Garda resources will be required. As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda authorities may take the view that some requests would require a disproportionate amount of time and effort to fulfil which would not be justified in the circumstances where there are continuing, and significant, overall demands on Garda resources.
It should be noted that drug seizures may not necessarily be related to usage in that locality as the drugs may have been in transit. Garda Síochána statistics on drug possession offences are but one indicator of the use of drugs throughout the country. The drug misuse research division of the Health Research Board is responsible for operating the national drug treatment reporting system, which is the main source of information on drug misuse in Ireland. The reporting system provides data on people who avail of treatment services for problem drug abuse on a nationwide basis. This provides information on current patterns and trends and reports on such trends in the health board areas are available from the health promotion departments established within all health boards, or from the health research board.
The Government's national drugs strategy, which is contained in the report Building on Experience, is the most comprehensive analysis and assessment of the drugs problem ever conducted in Ireland. The strategy outlines the policy framework through which all those involved in delivering on drugs policy can work on a partnership basis over the next seven years. The national health promotion strategy is also a resource and guide for those concerned with promoting health at a national and regional level while the interim report of the strategic task force on alcohol addresses issues related to the prevention of alcohol related harm. The reports and strategy documents are available in the Oireachtas Library and may also be purchased through the Government publications sales office. The Deputy will wish to be made aware that it is proposed to launch a national drugs awareness campaign early in the new year. The purpose of the national campaign will be to highlight the dangers of drugs and to promote a greater understanding of the causes and consequences of drugs misuse.
