Vol. 574 No. 1
512 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will publish the six monthly progress reports made by his Department to the Cabinet committee on social inclusion on the National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26405/03]
As has been outlined to the House on a number of occasions, Cabinet committees are an integral part of the Cabinet process. For that reason, questions as to the conduct of business at Cabinet or Cabinet committee meetings have never been allowed in the House. Among the reasons for this approach is the need to avoid infringing the constitutional protection of Cabinet confidentiality. Accordingly, the six monthly reports to the Cabinet committee on social inclusion are covered by this provision and I am not in a position to publish them. However, an annual report on the national drugs strategy is due to be published in the coming months.
513 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the position regarding the general population survey on drug misuse being carried out by the national advisory committee on drugs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26406/03]
The first results of the all-Ireland drug prevalence survey were launched on 20 October. This survey, which was the first of its kind in Ireland, was undertaken jointly by the national advisory committee on drugs, NACD, in Ireland and the drug and alcohol information and research unit, DAIRIU, in Northern Ireland. A total of 8,442 people aged 15-64 were surveyed by MORI MRC on behalf of the NACD and DAIRIU, 4,925 in Ireland and 3,517 in Northern Ireland, between October 2002 and April 2003. The survey was carried out using a pre-prepared questionnaire and face-to-face interviews, the preferred method under EMCDDA, European monitoring centre on drugs and drug addiction, guidelines.
The key finding of the survey was that just under one in five people, 19% surveyed reported ever using an illegal drug; one in 18, 5.6%, reported use in the last year and one in 33, 3%, reported use in the last month. Cannabis was the most widely used illegal drug reported with 18% of those surveyed having used it in their lifetime, 5% in the last year and 2.6% in the last month. Prevalence of other illegal drugs is lower and largely confined to the younger age groups. Further details are available in the bulletin released by the NACD and DAIRU, a copy of which will be sent to the Deputy. This is the first in a series of bulletins which will be published.
The NACD and DAIRU continue to analyse the information gathered. This analysis is being carried out on more than 150 questions relating to tobacco, alcohol and illegal drug use as well as findings relating to specific drugs, attitudes, perceived availability of illegal drugs and attempts to modify behaviour by quitting drug use.
Question No. 514 answered with Question No. 500.
