Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 27 May 2003

Vol. 567 No. 5

Written Answers. - National Drugs Strategy.

Damien English

Question:

106 Mr. English asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress on drugs strategy to date between the inter-departmental group on drugs and the national drugs strategy team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14477/03]

Gay Mitchell

Question:

113 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of actions of the 100 specific actions in the national drugs strategy which have not to date been implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14487/03]

Seán Ryan

Question:

127 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress made in implementing the new national drugs strategy launched in May 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14394/03]

Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Mr. N. Ahern)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 106, 113 and 127 together.

My Department has overall responsibility for co-ordinating the implementation of the national drugs strategy 2001-2008. The strategy aims to tackle the drug problem in the most comprehensive way ever undertaken in this country and contains 100 individual actions, under the four pillars of supply reduction, prevention, treatment and research, to be implemented by a range of Departments and agencies.

Since it was launched in May 2001, Departments and agencies have made considerable progress in implementing the actions set out for them in the strategy. The interdepartmental group on drugs, which I chair, meets regularly in conjunction with the national drugs strategy team, to assess progress being made and any obstacles to the implementation of any of the actions are brought to light at these meetings.

The strategy also provides for an independent evaluation of the effectiveness of the overall framework by end 2004. This will examine the progress being made in achieving the overall key strategic goals set out in the strategy and will enable priorities for further action to be identified and a refocusing of the strategy, if necessary.

Six monthly progress reports on the strategy are provided to the Cabinet committee on social inclusion, the most recent of which was presented in September last. It is intended to submit a further progress report to the committee next month and this is currently being finalised. In this regard, I can tell the Deputies that approximately one third of the 100 actions have already been completed or are on-going tasks over the life of the strategy. With the exception of a few actions where work has yet to commence, I can confirm that work is in progress on the remainder.

I wish to highlight, in particular, a few areas where significant progress has been made: The Customs and Excise have launched a coastal watch programme and have implemented a number of measures to enhance drugs detection capability at points of entry; guidelines to assist schools in the development of a drugs policy have also been developed and were issued to all primary and post primary schools in May 2002; the Department of Education and Science is now represented on all local drugs task forces and are recruiting extra support staff to enable the delivery of substance misuse prevention programme in all schools. Schools in the local drugs task force areas are being prioritised in this context; considerable progress is also being made as regards increasing the number of methadone treatment places. The number of places at the end of January 2003, the latest date for which confirmed figures are available, was 6,601 exceeding the target of 6,500 set in the strategy. The equivalent figure at the end of 2000 was 5,032; a national drugs awareness campaign was launched on 15 May. The campaign features television and radio advertising supported by an information brochure and website, all designed to promote greater awareness and communication about the drugs issue in Ireland. This first phase targets the general population while subsequent phases will focus on specific groups such as parents and young people; more than 1,100 recovering drug misusers are now on the special FÁS community employment programme; and regional drugs task forces are being established in the ten health board areas throughout the country. The national drugs strategy team has prepared guidelines for their operation and, to date, most of the RDTFs have held their first meetings.

On the local drugs task forces and young people's facilities and services fund my Department also has responsibility for the work of the 14 local drugs task forces. All the LDTFs, with the exception of Bray, are currently implementing their second round of action plans and, to date, over €14.5 million has been allocated. In total, the Government has allocated or spent over €65 million to implement the approximately 500 projects contained in the plans of the task forces since 1997. The Deputies should also note that over €11.5 million has been allocated to projects under the premises initiative, which is designed to meet the accommodation needs of community based drugs projects.

In addition, over €59 million has been allocated to support approximately 350 facility and services projects in LDTF areas and the four other urban centres under the young peoples facilities and services fund. The main aim of the fund is to attract "at risk" young people in disadvantaged areas into recreational facilities and activities and divert them away from the dangers of substance abuse.

In total, approximately €135 million has been allocated or spent by the Government since 1997 through these initiatives in the LDTF areas and the four other urban centres funded through the YPFSF.