I have a point of order. I have raised this before and hope I will not have to raise it again. This month I again put a number of questions on drugs to Deputy Carey, and they were transferred to the Department of Health and Children. Does the Deputy have responsibility for drugs or not? Last week I sent in a priority question on Leader and when the Order Paper appeared this morning my priority question was not on it. I want clarification. The Minister must take responsibility. If Deputy Carey does not have responsibility for drugs we had better address questions thereon to the Department of Health and Children. There is no point in my putting down the questions if they are being transferred.
Priority Questions.
That is not a point of order for the Chair. The Minister may refer to it in his response.
Where do I correct the matter? Could the Chairman advise me? I had the same problem last month. A question I tabled to the Minister with responsibility for Leader did not appear on the Order Paper.
It is not for the Chair to discuss. The Minister may wish to refer to it when answering the first question.
Who is running the Department? Is it some little official or is it the Minister?
I deal with the questions sent to me.
I tabled a priority question to Deputy Ó Cuív on the Leader problem and it did not appear on the Order Paper. The questions I put to Deputy Carey were referred to the Department of Health and Children. We had better find out now whether Deputy Carey has responsibility for drugs, and if he has not we will have to give them to our health spokesperson.
I was not aware of the Leader question——
I will send the information to the Minister tomorrow——
No, I will ask my Department why it was ruled out of order. It happened to me several times.
Land Access.
Michael Ring
Question:1 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if legislation is promised or other measures are being taken on land access and the provision of accessible walkways on land privately owned by farmers; the way this issue will be resolved; if he has met with or had discussions with farming groups and other interested parties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26320/07]
In its report on the national countryside recreation strategy, Comhairle na Tuaithe made the following recommendations. The Attorney General should be requested to examine restating and/or reflecting in legislation the current common law position on the protection of landowners' property rights where recreational access is allowed on their land. The Law Reform Commission should be requested to make recommendations on the broader issues of access to the countryside for recreational users focusing on the constitutional and legal position in Ireland. Comhairle na Tuaithe considered that no cost burden or liability, within the meaning of the Occupiers Liability Act 1995, should attach to farmers or landowners as a result of allowing recreational users on their land.
To ensure these issues were addressed as a matter of priority I established an expert group and asked that it report to me by 30 April last. Due to the short timeframe available to the expert group I requested that it initially consider issues in three broad areas. These were indemnity and insurance, whether bare licence should be put on a formal statutory basis and constitutional issues on the right to roam law including whether farmers would have to be compensated and a preliminary view as to whether the right to roam could confer wider access rights. I received the report in early May and members of Comhairle na Tuaithe were given until the end of August to put forward their comments and observations. The report will be discussed at the next Comhairle na Tuaithe meeting which takes place tomorrow, 2 November. The report is an objective legal opinion or legal advice. It is a report of legal experts, but every legal opinion is subject to what a court would decide. It is useful in that regard, but is not a policy proposal. It sets out the legal possibilities and informs our options for the future.
The issue of countryside recreation could be addressed through legislation or community agreement. I have always made clear my view that an agreed community approach offers a win-win situation for everyone with an interest in countryside recreation. Comhairle na Tuaithe comprises representatives of the farming organisations, recreational users of the countryside and state bodies with an interest in the countryside. Officials from my Department meet with Comhairle na Tuaithe on a regular basis. There is broad agreement in an chomhairle on the need for the protection of landholders and the need for reasonable access. There is also consensus within comhairle on preparing a scheme for the development and maintenance of agreed walks and work on the framework of this scheme is on-going in my Department, in full consultation with Comhairle na Tuaithe.
This issue has been going on for many years. I welcome the Minister's recent appointment of a number of rangers throughout the country. As a person from a tourism county I am aware that everybody wants to encourage walking. Many tourists find it difficult to understand that there are areas of the country in which they cannot walk. Regarding tomorrow's meeting, are we any closer to agreement between the Minister, the Department, farmers and everybody involved on allowing people to walk in the countryside? Has the Minister investigated the situation in Scotland where legislation has to be used? Although Scotland has had its own parliament only for the last few years, it has brought the farmers and property owners on board and resolved the problem. Has the Minister examined this? Will people be able to hill walk in this country next summer? Will the farmers be satisfied with what the Minister has agreed with them? Has he dealt with the insurance problems? In Scotland if work had to be done by the Department on land, the farmers were compensated. Where walkways have to be built on farmers' land, will the Minister examine offering compensation? Are we any nearer to allowing people to walk in the countryside than we were three years ago?
We are, and although what has happened over the past two to three years seems slow, it has brought the debate on tremendously. We had a useful and positive debate at the ICMSA tent at the ploughing championships. I am aware of the Scottish situation and have examined that of New Zealand, which is pursuing the community approach. New Zealand has more state land than we do. In Scotland legislation was brought in. I could foresee a number of difficulties with that legislation if it were brought in without agreement. For example, the Labour Party proposed that open land down to a certain height be open to walkers. Many of our hills slope below those heights and there is no mark on the mountain. If a farmer were angry, he or she could wait until a walker inadvertently crossed that threshold. I have been trying to build a consensus and we have it in counties such as Mayo, Galway and Donegal. The majority of farmers have no difficulty with people walking the mountains and they accept it by agreement.
We have fundamental agreement, except for a few tidying up issues, on a maintenance scheme for way-marked ways and farmers will be given two choices. Either they maintain it and the Department provides materials and pays them for their time, or we get the rural social scheme to maintain it. A farmer of 83 years with no children might be happier to choose the latter option.
This is an important issue. We have done much painstaking work. It is similar to resolving issues in the northern part of our country. Perhaps it should be discussed by the joint Oireachtas committee, where we could have a wide debate and tease it out in more detail than we can during Question Time today. However we are moving forward and the Deputy is probably coming from the same viewpoint as I am.
There is great co-operation from farmers on this issue. There is an impression in Dublin and among visitors that farmers do not want to co-operate. Farmers are prepared to co-operate but they must be protected. Some people think they can simply walk onto people's land and that there are no insurance problems. There are problems, but farmers are prepared to co-operate if something can be worked out.
I agree with the Deputy. My experience is that with few exceptions, and usually there is an historical reason for those exceptions, farmers have no difficulty with people walking on open land. They have a difficulty where active farming is taking place and where there is machinery, sheds and so forth, but the walkers tend to favour open land or defined walks. We have moved 90% of the way and have to settle this over the next few months. If invited, I would be willing to meet the committee to tease out the issues.
Regional Development.
Jack Wall
Question:2 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will report on his address to the Clare Community Regional Development Forum at Bunratty on 23 October 2007; if he will expand on the view he expressed that it is hard to expect people to invest money in a region that is seen by its citizens as a loser; the region he was referring to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26531/07]
I am arranging for a copy of the speech in question to be forwarded to the Deputy. The full context of what I meant by the sentence referred to by the Deputy is clear from the full speech. My view on the matter is that this maxim would apply equally to all regions.
I am grateful to the Minister for the speech. I am pleased he is forwarding information; it is important to have that interaction. The Minister said in that speech that when examining the possible solution to a problem, the most intractable problems are often solved by the power of lateral thinking. With regard to the problems generated in Shannon, what action has been taken by the Minister and his Department on overcoming the concerns of the various groups, employees and business organisations? The Minister advised that people should move forward in a positive way but what has he done since the two Heathrow slots were transferred to Belfast? Has he met with the groups? Is there a Government sub-committee dealing with the matter? What are the possibilities for overcoming this?
According to newspaper reports no replacement airline has taken up the vacant slots in Shannon. What has happened since this happened? The Minister talks about positivity but I have not seen it. The concerns still exist. The employees were recently in Brussels seeking guidance and support. If we are to think positively, the Minister, his Department and the Government must think in the same way. I do not see that happening. What has happened about overcoming the problems that so many people and groups believe the loss of the Shannon slots will create?
I was speaking at the forum about the general issue of rural and regional development. With regard to Shannon, my Department is represented on the interdepartmental committee. My point is that we have a problem and it must be dealt with. However, only to see problems and not see solutions and to highlight all the problems in a region does no favours for the region in terms of attracting inward investment for development.
There is a good example in Dublin of the power of positive thinking. There were, are and no doubt will be serious problems in the north docks area of Dublin city. However, when the concept of the IFSC was being sold, all the positives of the area were sold, not the negatives. We know what the IFSC has done for that area. This does not mean the Minister of State and I do not continue to engage in dealing with the social problems of that area, which are still real. Always highlighting the problems gives an excuse to those who might have been thinking of investing for not doing it.
When I was appointed Minister, I spoke to the Western Development Commission and to the people involved in Knock airport. We had an interesting discussion and decided that positivity was the way forward. I made the point that it would be ridiculous to have a "Go West Ireland" campaign, which covers County Clare, while at the same time always conveying the message that the west is a terrible place, with no facilities or advantages. The work of the Western Development Commission is testament to the power of positive thought.
The Deputy asked about my engagement with Shannon. The engagement of Galway and Knock airports with me is much greater, and always has been, than the engagement of Shannon. The amount of interaction those airports have created of their own volition is much greater. Ironically, when I arrived home from holidays this year, within 24 hours I was asked to meet the representatives of two airports in the west. One was Knock and the other was Galway airport. Representatives of Shannon Airport never sought to meet me. Perhaps that means something too.
The Minister is responsible for the entire country. The examples of Knock and Galway are quite parochial. With regard to the IFSC, that was a project which was due to take place. The problem in Shannon is happening now and is creating major problems for the west and the midlands. I do not see the Minister, his Department or anybody in the Government doing anything positive to allay the fears and concerns of the people affected. They have mortgage payments and school going children. Nothing is being done.
The Minister says lateral thinking will solve this. Lateral thinking for the future might do something but at present there is a major problem in this area. It is within the Minister's jurisdiction but he has done nothing aside from say that he spoke to representatives of Galway and Knock airports. If representatives did not approach the Minister, why did he not approach them? Why did he not try to see how his Department could help in this situation? It is inconceivable that the Minister should use the example of representatives of two airports meeting with him and the other, which has a major problem, not doing so. Why did the Minister not take the alternative of offering his services to that airport?
I met with the Atlantic Connectivity Alliance. Its representatives sought a meeting and it was promptly given. I also conveyed, in my own way, to Shannon Airport representatives that I would be willing to meet them. I cannot force somebody to seek a meeting with me.
Many positive things are happening in the region. The Limerick tunnel is being built, the Ennis bypass has been completed, work on the road to Galway is due to start next year and the rail line from Ennis to Athenry and Galway is under construction. These developments are happening because good work was put into them. I do not accept the Deputy's argument that Knock is more parochial than Shannon. My constituency is as near to Shannon Airport as it is to Knock airport, and I do not live in either county. The difference is that there has been a positive engagement over the years with Knock airport. Its representatives accepted what was possible for the Government to do and what was not possible. On that basis we have moved forward a great deal. I have not found the same realisation of what the Government can and cannot do in the Shannon context.
I have been clear on this issue, to a point where I am sure I have made myself unpopular. My view was that the people were asking the Government to do the impossible, which is fair enough, but in doing so they set out a negative perception of their area. They were not addressing the reality, which is that Aer Lingus will not change its mind so we must look in another pot.
Employment Support Services.
Michael Ring
Question:3 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will address the anomaly that exists in relation to the difference between rural social scheme and community employment scheme payments for widows and widowers, one parent family allowance recipients and those receiving disability allowance in order that the RSS payment is made in addition to the person’s pension payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26321/07]
As the Deputy will be aware, the rural social scheme, RSS, is a supplementary work scheme for self-employed farmers and fisherpersons who earn an inadequate income from their farm holdings or fishing. The scheme aims to provide income support for farmers and fisherpersons who are in receipt of certain long-term social welfare payments and to provide certain services of benefit to rural communities by harnessing the skills and talents of participants.
In this context, it is important to note that the RSS is not a training scheme. The community employment, CE, scheme, on the other hand, is an employment and training programme which helps long-term unemployed people to re-enter the active workforce by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return to work routine. The programme assists those participating to enhance and develop their technical and personal skills, which can then be used in the workplace.
As the RSS is an income support scheme rather than a training scheme, it is, therefore, not appropriate that comparisons be made between it and FÁS and CE schemes regarding conditions and the level of allowances that are payable.
Participants on the RSS who qualify through one-parent family payment, widow or widower's pension, either contributory or non-contributory, or disability allowance, continue to receive their weekly social welfare payment from the Department of Social and Family Affairs, with a top-up payment under the RSS.
Although two separate payments are made to participants, the total amount paid is roughly equal to, or slightly above, the amount that would have been paid had the RSS made one payment.
The Deputy should note that currently there are 46 participants on the scheme who are in receipt of disability allowance, a further five who are receiving the one-parent family payment and one who is in receipt of a widow or widower's contributory pension.
Some people have contacted me regarding this anomaly and I know that most of the Leader companies have made representations to the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív. The rural social scheme has been excellent and with FÁS does more work than the county councils in this regard. I compliment these schemes and hope they last a long time because if people in some areas had to depend on the county council to get work done it would not happen.
This scheme is good and it works but if so few people are being affected by the anomaly, I request that the Minister correct it. The anomaly relates to people on FÁS schemes who are widows or widowers, lone parents or on disability allowance who are not eligible for social welfare allowance in addition to the FÁS payment. The Minister rightly said that a person in receipt of disability allowance on the rural social scheme will only receive the allowance plus a top-up, bringing the total to €210. I request that the Minister correct this anomaly because it will not cost the Department a great deal and should not be allowed to develop. It has created problems and I know that the national organisation running the scheme has made representations to the Minister and his Department to have this anomaly corrected. What would it cost the Department to do this and is it possible?
The rural social scheme is rural while the FÁS scheme is based in urban and rural areas, and the same rules that apply to the FÁS scheme should apply to this. Rectifying this anomaly would not cost a great deal.
This is a case where the grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence. A couple with one child on this scheme gets the flat rate and loses social welfare payments. Deputy Ring is suggesting that widows, widowers and single parents should be an exception to this rule and should keep receiving their social welfare payments.
As they do on the FÁS scheme.
Many couples and single people think that is grossly unfair and cannot understand why they are not allowed hold on to social welfare payments while receiving money through the rural social scheme. Deputy Ring suggests that this is the case on FÁS schemes and he is correct, but it is done to encourage lone parents and so on back into the workforce.
The difference with the rural social scheme is that there is a third source of income that the Deputy is ignoring. A person on the rural social scheme must by definition either own a farm, be a fisherperson or be closely connected to such a person. This third source of income makes the rural social scheme very different from FÁS because very few people on CE schemes have an income beyond what they receive through FÁS.
The Deputy asked how much it would cost to implement his proposed change and that is the $64,000 question because the number of people on the scheme is small. However, the Deputy's proposal, allowing an individual to retain his or her full social welfare payment with the full RSS payment and farm income, could prove very attractive and could lead to many people joining the scheme under the relevant category. I do not know how much this would cost but such payments to lone parents, widows and widowers constitute a large part of the cost of CE schemes.
The matter of the widow's or widower's contributory pension has been raised and, again, this depends on which side of the fence one views it from. No means test is involved so, technically, one could receive a widow's or widower's contributory pension while owning 1,000 acres of land and receive a large occupational pension. We took the view that there are so few such people that they should be allowed on the scheme despite the lack of a means test but this is the only such group and it could be termed an anomaly.
The Minister knows that a farmer husband who pays PRSI will receive a contributory pension but his wife will not receive a contributory pension. This situation mostly affects women and aggravates those caught in the anomaly. I am asking the Minister to address the situation because the cost would be small and unfair policies should be corrected. The figures the Minister has mentioned today suggest that addressing this anomaly would not cost the Department a great deal of money so I request that he examine the matter because Leader groups are affected.
If the Deputy ever reaches this side of the House he will learn that Leader companies, county councils and other authorities are always very generous when spending other people's money.
The Government is not bad at spending other people's money either. Ministers did not do too bad last week with pay increases of €38,000.
That was decided independently.
Any Leader company that can get more money will not say no, but this issue depends on one's perspective as one can argue both sides. I should not be asking the Deputy questions but can he see the argument of a single person or a couple with a child who will receive less from the scheme than a single parent with a child?
There is another aspect to this that demonstrates the rural social scheme is entirely different from the CE scheme.
It is a good scheme and I accept that.
I provided that where one member of a couple has a part-time job that pays less than €12,500 the allowance will not taper because the idea was to benefit families that engage in farming. I am open to the Deputy's idea but there are two sides to the coin. I hope the Deputy is equally open to the argument that 2,500 people will put to me if I introduce double payments, suggesting what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. The rural social scheme is not the same as the CE scheme because there is the matter of a third source of income. We can debate this matter again when we come to Estimates because there are merits to both arguments.
This is not a debate and we are well over our allotted time.
I am trying to be helpful to the Deputy.
Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla.
Dinny McGinley
Question:4 D’fhiafraigh Deputy Dinny McGinley den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta cén dul chun cinn atá déanta le bliain anuas maidir le cur i bhfeidhm an dréacht-rialacháin faoi mhír (1) d’alt 9 d’Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla, cén uair a bheidh na buan-rialacháin á meas, cén fáth go bhfuil moill lena bhfoilsiú; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [26322/07]
Mar is eol don Teachta, ar 28 Meán Fómhair 2006 leag mé os comhair an Oireachtais dréacht-rialacháin a bhain le húsáid na Gaeilge agus an Bhéarla ag comhlachtaí poiblí i bhfógairt béil réamhthaifeadta, ar stáiseanóireacht agus ar chomharthaíocht. Bhí deis agam na dréacht-rialacháin sin a phlé le baill an Chomhchoiste Oireachtais um Ghnóthaí Ealaíona, Spóirt, Turasóireachta, Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta ar 29 Samhain 2006 agus arís ar 13 Nollaig 2006. Ghlac an Dáil agus an Seanad araon leis na dréacht-rialacháin seo ar 14 Nollaig 2006.
In a dhiaidh sin, scríobh mo Roinn chuig gach comhlacht poiblí atá clúdaithe faoin Acht chun deis eile a thabhairt dóibh a gcuid tuairimí a nochtadh faoi na dréacht-Rialacháin sula shíneoinn iad. Tá an próiseas comhairliúcháin sin críochnaithe anois agus táim ag súil go mbeidh mé in ann na rialacháin a dhéanamh go han-luath tar éis tuilleadh plé leis an gcomhchoiste.
Is fiú dom a rá go bhfuil i gceist go scríobhfaidh mo Roinn chuig gach comhlacht poiblí atá clúdaithe faoin Acht chun iad a chur ar an eolas maidir le forálacha na rialachán sula dtagann siad i bhfeidhm.
Aontaím go bhfuil an ábhar seo pléite agus ath-phléite leis an comhchoiste Oireachtais. Bhí mé i láthair ansin agus an Bille ag dul tríd an Dáil agus an Seanad. Tá na cúrsaí seo ag dul ar aghaidh le cúpla blian anuas, ó chuireadh an tAcht teanga tríd an Teach, thart ar ceithre bliana ó shin. Beidh daoine ag éirí mífhoighneach, go speisialta tar éis an méid a bhí le rá ag an Aire ag an oireachtas aréir i gCathair na Mart. Is cosúil go raibh oíche thar dóigh ag an Aire, nó b'fhéidir go bhfuil an fliú air. Cibé rud atá air, tá súil agam go dtiocfaidh sé slán gan mhoill.
An bhfuil aon athrú i dtaobh comharthaíocht bóthar? Is é sin an rud atá ag déanamh imní do dhaoine. An bhfuil aon athraithe fógraithe? An féidir leis an Aire a rá cén tuairisc a fuair sé ar ais ó na húdaráis áitiúla maidir le comharthaíocht bóthar? Is beag atá le feiceáil in aon pháirt den tír go fóill go bhfuil na rialacháin seo á chur i bhfeidhm ag na húdaráis áitiúla.
Ní bhaineann na rialacháin seo le comharthaí bóthar agus, ar ndóigh, níl siad deimhnithe fós. Más buan cuimhne an Teachta, nuair a bhí an comhchoiste Dála ar bun, mhol an Seanadóir Ó Tuathail dul i gcomhairle leis na comhaltaí poiblí agus d'iarr sé orm scríobh chucu. De bharr an rud a tharla nuair a chreid mise nach raibh mórán bunús le dul i gcomhairle, cuirim i gcás, maidir leis na logainmneacha, nuair nach raibh dóthain dul i gcomhairle, shíl mé sa gcás seo go ndéanfainn cinnte go raibh an oiread dul i gcomhairle le nach mbeadh éinne in ann a rá go brách nach raibh dóthain dul i gcomhairle ann.
Scríobh mé chuig 600 comhlacht, ach ní bhfuair mé freagra ar ais ach ó bheagán acu, ach tá an toradh sin againn. Teastaíonn uaim deis amháin eile a thabhairt do bhaill an Tí seo na freagraí a scrúdú, agus an bealach a bhfuil mé ag déileáil leo a scrúdu, agus a dtuairimí a nochtadh. Ansin, déanfaidh mé na rialacháin. Chuir mé tuairisc inniu maidir le bunú an chomhchoiste, agus de réir mar a thuigim, beidh an céad cruinniú eile den comhchoiste ar bun an tseachtain seo chugainn. Iarrfaidh mé ar an rúnaí cur in iúl don chathaoirleach ainmnithe go bhfuil mé ag iarraidh fáil isteach chomh luath agus is féidir le seo a phlé agus leis na rialacháin a dheimhniú. Níl mé ag iarraidh aon mhoill, tá mé réidh le n-imeacht.
Mar is eol don Teachta, bhí moill ar ceapadh na gcoiste nach raibh súil agam leis. Ag deireadh an lae, nach fearr an rud é go ndeimhneoidh muid na rialacháin tar éis an phróiseas seo? Ar a laghad ansin, ní bheidh sé le rá ag éinne, ó thaobh comhlachtaí Stáit, nach ndeachaigh mé i gcomhairle leo, ná ní bheidh sé le rá ag éinne san Oireachtas nár tugadh seans dóibh a dtuairimí a nochtadh. Is fearr go mór go nglacfaí leo tar éis sin ná iad a dhéanamh faoi dheifir agus go mbeadh míshásamh ann faoi na rialacháin agus easpa dul i gcomhairle. Sin í an fhadhb.
Más buan mo chuimhne, bhí sé i gceist go dtiocfadh an tAire Iompair isteach ag an comhchoiste — sílim go raibh an Aire, an Teachta Ó Cuív, i láthair nuair a socraíodh é sin — le cúrsaí síneacha agus comharthaí bóthar a phlé. B'fhéidir gur phioc an Aire suas contráilte mé, ach is í an cheist atá ag cur as domsa ná na logainmneacha ar na comharthaí bóthar. Sílim go bhfuil fadhbh ansin agus ba mhaith liom go ndéanfar cinnte go mbeidh na logainmneacha cearta ar na comharthaí bóthar, de réir mar atá leagtha amach sna dréacht rialacháin.
Níl na hainmneacha sin ná comharthí bóthar clúdaithe sna dréacht rialacháin. An feidhm atá ag mo Roinn maidir le comharthaí bóthar ná an méad atá san Acht teanga maidir le comharthaí bóthar d'áiteanna sa Ghaeltacht agus gur muid a leagann síos an leagan údarásach Gaeilge. Tagaim go mór leis an Teachta, is mór an náire chomh leisciúil, mí-chúramach agus atá comhairlí áitiúla maidir le comharthaí bóthar. Tá comhartha fé leith i mo chontae fhéin, Baile Cháir na Gaillimhe atá air, tá "h" in ionad "l", agus is é an dearcadh atá ann ná, is cuma faoi. Bhí mé ag caint le fear as Contae Mhuigheo aréir, Seán Ó hÉallaithe, agus dúirt sé liom go bhfuil samplaí dochreidte feicthe aige, agus leaganacha difriúla feicthe ar trí nó ceithre comharthaí i bhfoisceacht cúpla míle. Cuirtear rud ar bith ar na comharthaí, ach tagann na cúrsaí sin faoin Roinn Iompair. Ní féidir liomsa ach na leaganacha oifigiúla a chur ar fáil agus súil a bheith agam gur sin a chuirfear ar na comharthaí bóthar.
Drainage Schemes.
Michael Ring
Question:5 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs whether it is possible for funding allocated towards roads under the CLÁR programme to be utilised for drainage works prior to or in addition to road works being carried out. [26305/07]
My Department provides funding for non-national roads under the CLÁR programme which I announced on 1 March 2007. Under this programme, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and my Department each provide €3 million to fund works to local secondary and tertiary roads in CLÁR areas.
Under the measure, local authorities may also replace, widen or strengthen bridges on local secondary and tertiary roads, subject to the prior approval of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. My Department also operates a measure to provide additional funding to local authorities to carry out works on local improvement scheme, LIS, roads in CLÁR areas. I announced the new LIS measure for 2007 on 22 October.
Under the measures outlined above, the local authority selects the projects according to the rules laid down by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. I understand that drainage works considered necessary for the adequate improvement of a road are allowable under the measures but drainage works on their own are not eligible.
My Department has no role in the selection of the roads or the works carried out. Expertise in these matters lies with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the local authorities. In the circumstances, I suggest the Deputy make inquiries directly with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government or the local authority involved in the particular case.
CLÁR is an excellent scheme which works well and I watch to ensure its budget is not cut this year. During many previous winters we had serious problems with flooding in many parts of rural Ireland. We had this problem even in the bad old days when people with horses and carts went out on wet days, marked the roads and knew where flooding problems occurred. We now have top-class educated people who know nothing about roads. They tar a road to the corner and leave no room for drainage.
Last year, most of the flooding occurred in south Mayo and part of the Minister's Galway constituency because proper drainage work was not done by the OPW, county councils or the Department. Nobody took responsibility for this or for the flooding when it occurred. Will the Minister, who has responsibility for rural affairs, change policy and bring together local authorities, the OPW and the Department to draw up a scheme to allow the funding provided for CLÁR to be used for road drainage? It would save the taxpayer a great deal of money.
I agree with Deputy Ring's basic premise. I can never understand roads being tarred without pipes being put in first. Double-axled trucks can destroy hand-dug drains in five minutes. People who want to return to shovels and spades do not understand the ability of modern trucks to sweep aside all before them. The answer is gully traps and pipes which is allowed under the present scheme. Putting in gully traps and pipes when a road is built and surfacing the road afterwards has proven successful. However, many people complain because they do not see the results of the work immediately. This is a priority.
In regard to the flooding in certain areas of south County Mayo and east County Galway and the wider drainage issues raised by the Deputy, it is not merely a case of road drainage. However, I am willing to investigate these issues.
At my request, the Department asked local authorities to set out their priorities in respect of CLÁR funding next year in terms of water, sewerage and group water schemes and tertiary roads. The Deputy will be happy to know funding is not being cut. However, it is important that we receive feedback from local authorities because I am willing to reduce funding for schemes that have served their purpose while increasing funding for other schemes. This is the year of the group water scheme. We have approved connections for some 3,500 households, affecting approximately 10,000 people who otherwise would never have had a piped water connection. That is a significant development for rural Ireland. The Deputy's own county has benefited hugely, as have counties Donegal and Clare. We are considering ways of focusing the funding and I will pay heed to suggestions on new priorities. However, it is also important that local authorities highlight the issues they consider important.
Will the Minister find out which among his Department, the OPW and the local authorities has responsibility for dealing with flooding? When a problem arises, nobody takes responsibility. Will a new agency be required to deal with the matter? Somebody needs to take responsibility because the issue arises every winter.
One of my colleagues from east Galway has been pursuing me about a river flooding problem in his constituency. The regional fisheries board is interested but has no money, while the OPW denies responsibility. When I first went to the west, it was fashionable to drain land and prevent rivers flooding but such work has become somewhat unfashionable for reasons of ecology. However, as certain areas require flood remediation works, I will reflect on the issue raised by the Deputy.
Crime Prevention.
Ciaran Lynch
Question:6 Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the position on the registration of mobile phones in regard to drug crime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26513/07]
The widespread use of mobile phones in drug dealing is common knowledge and the issue was among those discussed when I recently met representatives of the Garda national drugs unit. As Minister of State with responsibility for the national drugs strategy, I support any initiatives that inhibit illicit drug dealing and welcome the commitment in the programme for Government that all mobile phones will be required to be registered with name, address and proof of identity in order to stop drug pushers using untraceable and unregistered phones.
I am advised that the proposal to establish a register of prepaid mobile phones requires careful consideration as many complex legal, technical, data protection and practical issues are involved. The Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources has identified a number of problems in achieving this objective. These include the ease with which a foreign or stolen SIM card can be used, the difficulties that would be posed in verifying identity and data protection issues arising from the development of a register. I understand the issue will continue to be considered by the relevant parties with a view to achieving an outcome that will be satisfactory to all involved.
Since I last asked this question, a lady from County Kildare wrote a letter to The Irish Times asking whether we were fooling ourselves in following this route. I do not have the answer; neither, clearly, does the Department. Is it the case that, given the legislative issues arising with regard to foreign telephones, we will not make progress in the short term?
Considerable difficulties remain to be overcome. I met representatives of the Irish Cellular Industry Association and the industry advisory board, as well as the Garda, and the view tends to be that while there is the potential to introduce restrictions, the experience in places where registers have been introduced, including Australia, is that the matter is fraught with difficulties. The only European countries where registers have been introduced are France, Germany and Switzerland, all of which have encountered difficulties, even in regions where mobile phone usage is lower than here. No proposals have been made on introducing a register in the United Kingdom, the country with the closest legal regime to ours.
The Internet Advisory Board is of the view that we should work towards introducing more rigorous measures in areas such as parental control. The industry is developing technologies which would allow for restrictions on the use of mobile phones by nominated users, particularly children. The Garda has expressed satisfaction with the level of co-operation it receives from the industry. Technology has also developed significantly with regard to traceability but significant issues remain to be resolved. While I am committed to introducing a register, I also recognise the difficulties encountered.
In January the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources stated this could not work. Does the Minister of State agree? I agree something has to be done because we cannot allow criminals to use such telephones to run their drug empires.
The Department has made that statement and received advice from the Attorney General that it is a difficult issue. However, it has not given up. I have expressed the view that I would like the issue to be resolved as far as possible, working closely with the industry and seeking advice from the Garda and others.
Community Development.
Dinny McGinley
Question:7 D’fhiafraigh Deputy Dinny McGinley den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta cad iad na hiarrachtaí atá á ndéanamh le fostaíocht a chruthú i gceantar na Gaeltachta Láir agus i gceantar Chloich Chionnaola; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [26510/07]
Dírím aird an Teachta ar an bhfreagra a thug mé ar Cheist Dála Uimh. 41 ar 24 Aibreán 2007.
Mar is eol don Teachta, tá iarrachtaí leanúnacha á ndéanamh ag Údarás na Gaeltachta chun fostaíocht a ghiniúint sna ceantair Ghaeltachta, Cloich Chionnaola agus an Ghaeltacht Láir ina measc.
Déantar é seo trí thacaíocht d'fhiontraithe áitiúla agus trí infheisteoirí sheachtracha a mhealladh isteach iontu. Tuigtear dom go bhfuil athscrúdú á dhéanamh ag an Údarás ar an gcur chuige maidir le forbairt agus cruthú fostaíochta sna ceantair thearcfhorbartha i gcoitinne agus go mbeidh beartas fócasaithe ina leith sin á chur os comhair Bhord an Údaráis go luath.
Tá sé suntasach go bhfuil an dá cheantar atá luaite agam, Cloch Cheannfhaola agus an Ghaeltacht Láir, luaite freisin sa tuairisc a chur an Aire ar fáil i gCathair na Mart aréir, mar cheanntair i nGaeltacht Dhún na nGall ina bhfuil an Ghaeilge láidir. Tá siad i rann "A" ó thaobh labhairt na Gaeilge, 66% nó níos mó. Ina measc tá na ceanntair thart ar Ghort an Choirce, an Fhálcarrach agus Gleann Fhinne. An aontaíonn an Aire liom go gcaithfimid tosaíocht a thabhairt do cheantair mar sin ina bhfuil an Ghaeilge níos láidre ná an meán? Dá bhrí sin, an gcuirfidh sé in iúl do na húdaráis gur cóir dóibh gach iarracht a dhéanamh sna háiteanna ina bhfuil an Ghaeilge láidir tacaíocht eacnamaíochta agus fostaíocht a thabhairt chuig na ceantair sin sa dóigh go mairfidh an cás mar atá agus nach rachfaidh sé ar cúl mar a tharla i gceantair "B" agus "C"? Ar an droch uair, tá níos mó díobh sin sna Gaeltachtaí ná mar atá sna ceantair atá i ngrúpa "A".
Beidh muid ag plé an staidéir teangeolaíochta amach anseo, ach is ceist achrannach í. An ceart a rá gan cúnamh tionsclaíochta a thabhairt ach sna ceantair láidir Gaeltachta?
Níl mé ag rá gan cuidiú leo, ach gur cóir tosaíocht áirithe a thabhairt do na ceantair ina bhfuil an teanga láidir.
Táim ag teacht chuige sin. An fhadhb atá le sin ná go bhfuil ceantair taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht ag fáil cúnaimh tionsclaíochta go hiomlán. Caithfimid bheith réasúnta cothrom. Mar is eol don Teachta, táim ag rá leis an údarás le fada gur ceart, i gceantair láidre Gaeltachta — is ceantair i bhfad siar go leor acu siúd — cúnamh breise a thabhairt ar dhá chúis, uimhir a haon, mar gur ceantair tearcfhorbartha iad agus uimhir a dó mar go bhfuil féidireachtaí iontacha sna ceantair seo ó thaobh thionscail an teanga mar go bhfuil rud acu nach bhfuil ag aon cheantar eile. Bhí mé ag iarraidh an t-údaras a bhrú i dtreo níos mó infheistíochta a dhéanamh sna féidireachtaí iomlána a bhaineann leis an teanga agus an t-éileamh atá ar sheirbhísí. Feicim ceantair ag baint úsáide agus leasa as sin. Buíochas le Dia, tá rath iontach ar na coláisti Gaeilge fé láthair agus méadú mór ar an líon scoláirí. Tá ceantair áirithe, mar shampla, ag baint leas mhór as na deiseannaí aistriúchán atá ann. Tá láidreachtaí i ngach ceantar, go speisialta anois agus seasamh láidir ag an Rialtas i leith na Gaeilge. Tá láidreachtaí ó thaobh ghnó de ag na ceantair láidir Gaeltachta, ach níl mé sásta go bhfuil leas iomlán bainte as sin go fóill.
An argóint a bhíonn agam i gcónaí ná, gur féidir le dream sa tSín nó sa Pholainn nó áit ar bith eile mar sin dul in iomaíocht linn i dtionscail, ach níl iomaíocht ann más tionscal i nGaeilge atá i gceist. Tá a fhios agam go bhfuil an Teachta bodhar den chur chuige sin. Cinnte, beidh mé ag cur brú go ndéanfear gach is féidir le cinntiú go dtiocfaidh na ceantair seo slán. Luíonn sé le réasún gur ceart go ndíreoidh muid ar na láidreachtaí sna ceantair seo, mar ní féidir iachall a chur ar thionscail ón iasacht teacht go dtí na ceantair seo nuair nach bhfuil Gaeilge acu.
Ruairí Quinn
Question:8 Deputy Ruairí Quinn asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the grants available to a community to refurbish its community halls and meeting centres in view of the importance such establishments play in community life and the need to keep such centres up to a proper standard. [26519/07]
Eamon Gilmore
Question:25 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the grants available through aspects of his Department towards the refurbishment of old buildings in rural areas that would be of benefit to such communities as community centres and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26508/07]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 25 together.
My Department provides funding for a wide range of community projects, through various schemes and programmes. Each of the schemes and grant programmes operated by my Department is governed by rules and eligibility criteria, which projects have to meet to qualify for funding.
With regard to the specific refurbishment projects referred to by the Deputies, elements of such projects may be eligible for funding under my Department's programme of grants for locally based community and voluntary organisations, the young people's facilities and services fund, the CLÁR programme and the Leader programmes. Funding may also be available through the dormant accounts fund.
In the case of projects located in a Gaeltacht area, grants are also available under my Department's Gaeltacht improvement schemes to provide or improve facilities such as community centres for the purpose of enhancing the linguistic, cultural and social development of the Gaeltacht. Detailed information in respect of these programmes and schemes can be found on my Department's website at www.pobail.ie. I hope the website is working because, unfortunately, there was a problem with it last night.
I will be parochial this time. Several organisations in my area see what the sports capital programme has achieved and say they must fight to create their own funding. While the web is a wonderful addition to modern technology, it is hard to beat the piece of paper in rural areas. Is there a mechanism to drive forward this kind of grant? Rural life and volunteerism are diminishing. There is, however, a resurgence of the local hall in some areas. Can the Minister regenerate interest through local media and create a new impetus to ensure the continuation in some instances, and regrowth in others, of community halls which can provide so much entertainment for the community and visitors?
I will synopsise the menu that is available to someone such as the Deputy who seeks advice. The programme of grants for locally based community and voluntary organisations is the tops where a refurbishment job up to €40,000 is in question. One can apply at any time. The percentage grant is clear-cut but depending on the level of disadvantage in the area, it is either 90% or 60%. That is all cut and dried which is not much use for a big job.
Leader companies have recently become big players in rural areas. In certain circumstances they have been able to give up to €100,000 and that will increase to €200,000. In the CLÁR areas, subject to the 50% rule, we double the money, rather like the show on RTE on Saturday. If a group raises €100,000, CLÁR gives it another €100,000. That has been useful for many halls in the CLÁR areas. There will soon be a new rural development programme under which that money will increase to €200,000. I hope to continue with the matching funds which will provide a total of €400,000, a serious sum. I am examining the percentage. Until now, owing to EU rules, it was 50% but I might be able to deal with that one.
There is also the young people's facilities and services fund which forms part of the drugs policy money with which my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Pat Carey, deals. That is focused on areas at risk from drugs and the local vocational education committees have an input into it. There is a flagship under the dormant accounts fund which tries to attract people who have made large sums of money recently by saying, for example, if they put up €1 million, we will match that.
Committees find it frustrating to try to pick and match within the rules, especially those near the Border which have access to peace money and the International Fund for Ireland and so on. They might get five funders who walk away if the committee is short €20,000. This has frustrated me for years and it needs to be re-examined.
Deputy McGinley will agree that the situation in the Gaeltacht is very handy because there are only three funders there, Údarás na Gaeltachta for enterprise, my Department for community activity and a separate fund for child care. The committees there are not allowed to go to any other funders. They find this handy because they are told the amount of the grant and if they are going for the Taj Mahal, we tell them to cut it down. They do not have to apply by a certain date and it is not rejected if they get it wrong. It is an interactive system which works well. It is difficult to change structures because when one goes to change them, everyone says the old one was great. There is a point in this about considering communities, however.
I hope this type of issue will be thrashed out in committees during this Dáil and that people are willing to make the hard decision and consider what is simplest and fairest from the community applicant's point of view. I do not believe it is a good idea for them to have to match six or seven funds. It is impossible to get them together. The sports capital programme is a great example of a simple approach. What is the simplest and fairest way for them? I do not think that trying to match up six or seven funds is a great idea. It is impossible to get it together. The capital sports grant is a great example of a simple approach, as the Deputy pointed out.
Drug Use.
Thomas P. Broughan
Question:9 Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the latest figures available to his Department in relation to deaths that are linked to cocaine use; his proposals in relation to addressing the problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26502/07]
Joan Burton
Question:13 Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the research his Department has carried out in relation to a drug (details supplied); the results of such research; the side effects of such a drug; the action taken to highlight the dangers attached to the drug; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26501/07]
Paul Kehoe
Question:14 Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the action that will be taken to address the public disconnect between recreational drug use and criminal activity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26308/07]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 9, 13 and 14 together.
The figures for direct drugs-related deaths are extracted from the general mortality register, which is compiled by the CSO. The latest year for which figures are available is 2004, when nine deaths were attributed to cocaine use. As it is considered that these figures do not give a full picture of the number of deaths linked to drug use, it has been decided to establish a national drugs-related deaths index, in line with action 67 of the national drugs strategy. The Health Research Board is currently working on the development of this index and it is hoped that the first figures will be available before the end of 2008.
When people mix cocaine and alcohol, they compound the danger that each drug poses as the human liver combines the two and manufactures this substance. As one might expect, data from the national drug treatment reporting system indicate that cocaine and alcohol are being used together. While the combination of the two drugs intensifies euphoric effects, the substance in question is more toxic than either on its own and can cause more serious physical harm, particularly to the cardiovascular system, as well as having the potential to increase the risk of sudden death.
With respect to what is perceived as recreational drug use and its relationship with criminal activity, I agree with the Deputy that there is an evident public disconnect. This problem arises in part from the fact that many cocaine users do not see themselves as having a drugs problem, with the physical, mental, social and financial risks involved. Against this background, they do not perceive themselves as contributing to the overall illicit drugs market, with all the criminality involved, criminality that can be disproportionately felt in disadvantaged areas. Since my appointment as Minister of State with responsibility for the national drugs strategy, I have spoken quite often on this theme and I am heartened by the recent public comments of others in this regard, most notably by the President last weekend.
I am pursuing the implementation of the recommendations of the national advisory committee report, entitled An Overview of Cocaine Use in Ireland, mainly through the inter-departmental group on drugs, which I chair. Furthermore, my Department has funded four pilot cocaine projects and a training initiative for front line personnel to deal with cocaine issues. Under the emerging needs fund, six cocaine specific projects in local drugs task force areas have been funded and support for a further nine projects aimed at polydrug and cocaine use has also been provided under that fund. My Department also sponsored a highly successful conference last June, organised by the SAOL project and the national drugs strategy team on the response to cocaine through shared good practice. A very useful resource pack for workers in the field was launched at that event.
It strikes me that the issues raised by all three Deputies can be considered in the deliberations on a new national drug awareness campaign. This campaign is being led by the HSE and my Department is represented on the associated campaign advisory group.
I thank the Minister of State for that detailed reply. Deputy Burton's question was concerned with the side effects of a mixture of alcohol and cocaine. The mixture creates a substance that can cause health problems. We see a lot of road accidents where young people are killed late at night. One wonders if this substance creates drowsiness or a lack of sensitivity to one's actions. Will there be more details sought on this issue? What is the medical view on how to address it? It seems to be questionable and in need of investigation. The sooner we get to that stage, the better. I had never heard of this substance before I read about it in an article. Is there something in it worth investigating?
Will the Minister of State highlight one or two of the different projects to show us what is going on? Deputy O'Shea and I have spoken about road accidents and fatalities and how we have not yet reached a situation where the presence of drugs is determined as a cause. At a time where road safety is a big issue for everybody, when will we get to that stage? Will the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs lead on this, or will it be the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform? Will there be an interaction between the two?
It is timely that we are addressing this issue today, in view of the findings just published by the Health Research Board on the abuse of alcohol. There is increasing anecdotal evidence of significant mixing of alcohol and other substances, such as cocaine, heroin, benzodiazepines, ecstasy and so on. We are now getting to the stage where there is a problem with polydrug use. The fieldwork on an all-island prevalence study of drug misuse has been completed. We expect to publish the results before the end of the year, and it will give us a strong indication on the nature of drug use and how it has changed since the last study was conducted in 2003. We would be foolish to think that it will not indicate an increase in the use of certain drugs.
We are working with the HSE, the Department of Health and Children and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform on implementing the findings of the cocaine report and the rehabilitation report, both of which were published earlier this year. I am satisfied with the level of progress on the implementation of those at the moment. We have had meetings in the past few days with a number of working groups. There is an emerging strategy on alcohol misuse, which is being carried out by the Department of Health and Children. I am anxious that there be a close synergy between the drug misuse strategy and the alcohol strategy. We are teeing up the review of the current national drugs strategy, which will run from 2009 to 2016. We would be foolish if we did not make the best use of the time available to us to marry both.
The HSE will be handling a number of the cocaine-specific projects. Under the national drugs strategy in my Department, we have a number of pilot projects in Tallaght, the south inner city and the north inner city. Some of them have been more successful than others by their very nature. Those which deal with particular target groups have been successful. We have also concentrated heavily on promoting the training of front-line workers. Merchants Quay Ireland provides training and 104 people have been trained there. The Leeds Addiction Unit in Leeds University is also providing training in cognitive behaviour therapy, while the Waterford Institute of Technology is running a number of courses in that regard. Complementary therapies are regarded, along with cognitive behaviour therapy, as being one of the best ways of dealing with the problem, and the Blanchardstown local drugs task force has been involved in such therapies.
There are many other projects, such as the Finglas-Cabra drug task force, Croí Nua in Crumlin, the DROP project in Dún Laoghaire and an ongoing project in Cork. There are also linked projects and the Irish Prison Service has engaged Merchants Quay Ireland to provide counselling in prisons in order to prepare prisoners who are being discharged. There is also a good link project in Cork Prison with the local drugs task force and the Health Service Executive, HSE. This provides the context regarding the Department's position in this regard. I am uncertain whether this has satisfied the Deputy.
Is Ireland any closer to drug testing? While everyone is discussing the abuse of alcohol and driving, more people are being killed on the roads through the abuse of drugs. There is no way to test people who drive having taken drugs when they are in a serious accident.
I note the Minister of State was not attached to the Department before the general election. However, a survey was under way on the availability of drugs in Ireland, which was to be completed in April and published before the general election. However, this did not happen. When will the survey be published?
I refer to the rehabilitation pillar of the national drugs strategy. A lady whose son is in prison visited my clinic recently. While he seeks rehabilitation, such a service is not available to him. Although the family is making an effort to get something done for him, there is no point in sending that young man to prison without providing him with the medical help he needs. What is happening in this regard?
As for drug testing, I have discussed the issue with the Garda. Five or six devices are being pilot-tested at present to ascertain their utility in detecting substances other than alcohol or prescription medicines in the bloodstream. However, it will be some time before the results become available.
While I am open to correction on this issue, I do not believe it was ever expected that the all-island drug prevalence survey would be completed before the end of this year.
I understand it was due for completion in April.
The fieldwork has been completed in recent weeks and the study is being written up at present. I hope to have it by the end of the year.
As for the rehabilitation report and its recommendations, I met representatives of the HSE the other day and will meet the local and regional drugs task forces to ascertain how they are rolling out services. For example, the increase in the number of detoxification beds can be achieved by working with the voluntary sector and the hospitals. However, the Department is anxious to promote a continuum of care. The provision of detoxification alone is not especially valuable as preparation for it and continuity after it must be provided. The Department is aware that waiting lists for treatment are patchy in different parts of the country. This is the reason I am working with those regional drugs task forces in particular that have been allocated reasonably significant budgets but have been rather slow to roll out their programmes. I hope to visit the regional drugs task force that covers Deputy Ring's area before the end of this month. If there is anything he believes I should examine while there, I will be happy to accommodate him.
I thank the Minister of State and will be in contact with him.
The measures mentioned by the Minister of State all constitute positive steps towards our common goal of trying to improve the situation of the unfortunate people under discussion. I refer to rural Ireland, where there is now a consensus of opinion that a major drug problem exists across the entire spectrum. As for the collation of the data sought by the Department, what will be done with them? What interactions does the Minister of State anticipate he or the Department will have while trying to address this issue?
The regional drugs task forces are collating all such information in conjunction with the HSE. Many of the programmes to be rolled out will be operated in co-operation with rural general practitioners and community pharmacists. As for other schemes, issues pertaining to education and accommodation, as well as wider issues, must be addressed. Some parts of the country have less satisfactory cover than elsewhere. I visited the Kildare area in the past week or two and was impressed by what I found there. I also visited projects in counties Kerry and Cork within the southern regional drugs task force area a couple of weeks ago and was highly impressed. I will visit the Cavan and Meath areas tomorrow to examine several projects there. The Department works closely with the regional drugs task forces to ensure the provision of as comprehensive a service as possible. I am under no illusions that it will take a great deal more time and a good deal more investment before what I would consider to be an entirely coherent service will be in place nationwide.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.