I move:
That Seanad Éireann, conscious of the growing problem of drug abuse and drug-related crime throughout rural and urban Ireland, calls on the Government to tackle the escalating drugs culture by
– Fully implementing and resourcing the National Drugs Strategy,
– Recruiting an additional 2,000 members of the Garda Síochána as promised by the Government,
– Reversing the savage cutbacks in CE and JI schemes, which have reduced the capacity of the voluntary and community sector, and
– Ring fencing moneys from the Criminal Assets Bureau for the purpose of supporting communities dealing with the drugs crisis.
I welcome the Minister. The shocking results of the European school survey project on alcohol and other drugs highlighted the fact that the amount of cannabis use in Ireland among 15 to 16 year olds is double that of 11 other countries involved in the project. The use of other drugs is also more common than average. Inhalant use is twice as common here and a slightly higher proportion than average of respondents reported the use of alcohol in combination with pills.
It has been found that two fifths of the Irish prison population have a history of injecting drugs and nearly half of those continue to inject while in prison. Ireland has the highest levels of ecstasy and amphetamine use in western Europe. A United Nations report recently estimated that 66,000 people aged 15 and over take ecstasy at least once a year and 72,000 take amphetamines or speed. There are an estimated 14,450 heroin users in Ireland, the vast majority residing in the Dublin area. More than 50% of Irish prisoners are drug users, which compares very badly with the UK, where between 15% and 29% of prisoners use drugs.
The cut of 7% to 9% in health board funding in the last quarter of 2003 will particularly affect drugs services. No money has been planned for new services. Community and voluntary groups involved in drug treatment services argue that the implementation of the local drugs task force projects are being blocked at senior departmental level. The young peoples facilities and services fund is being reviewed, with no new initiatives currently being funded. Under the National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008, ten regional drugs task forces were set up in the ten health board regions in 2003, but they have only been given a minimum administrative budget – about €60,000 – in 2003. They have no programme budgets. The regional drugs task forces are expected to publish action plans for the regions which will identify the nature of the drugs problems in their areas and the actions they intend to implement to tackle drug misuse. This is unlikely to happen without funding.
The fulfilment of most of the Government's 100 promises under the national drugs strategy is behind schedule. The Government has yet to establish in the mainstream the projects set up in the local drugs task force areas as a result of the strategy. Most importantly, however, rehabilitation and after-care projects were to be established in every health board by the end of 2002. This has not happened. Instead, the health boards have had their health funding cut by up to 9% in the last quarter of 2003. The strategy set out targets, such as providing immediate access for drug misusers to professional assessment, increasing the number of treatment places and expanding the number of training and employment opportunities by 30% by the end of 2004. With the savage cutbacks already imposed in the last quarter of 2003 in the health board and drug treatment services, it is difficult to see how this can be turned around in 2004.
Fine Gael continues to be supportive of the general principles and objectives set out in the national drugs strategy, which was originally set up by the Fine Gael-led rainbow Government. The strategy is divided into four pillars: supply reduction, prevention, treatment and research. Investment in all four pillars is essential if medium and long term strategies are to be successful. Performance indicators and ambitious targets were set out in the national drugs strategy review. However, targets are only achievable if the energy and will to deliver exists within Government, but there is much evidence to suggest the Government has failed to prioritise and tackle the problems of drug abuse and addiction.
Ireland has the highest levels of ecstasy use in Europe, the third highest use of cannabis, the fourth highest use of stimulants, the fourth highest use of cocaine and the eighth highest use of opiates, including heroin. The problem is serious and despite the resources available to it, this Government has made little impact on the levels of drugs consumed. Unfortunately, the problem has got much worse.
Fine Gael plans to make a difference by prioritising substance abuse and addiction as a crisis in need of management. In the area of drug supply reduction, Fine Gael will bring forward a proposal to increase international and European co-operation on drug trafficking, increase resources allocated to the Garda national drugs unit and local Garda drugs squads in all areas. It is difficult to believe that if gardaí in most rural areas want to carry out a drugs bust, they have to wait up to two or three months for a dog from the local drugs squad unit to be made available. Current Government proposals only plan to increase Garda resources in existing drugs task force areas, i.e. in Dublin and Cork, ignoring the remainder of the country. I am concerned that those areas are open to drug abuse.
Re-assessing policing policies in co-operation with the Garda national drugs unit is a proven method of supply reduction and there is a need to promote fresh approaches. Policies such as Operation Dóchas, Operation Cleanstreet, Operation Mainstreet and Operation Nightcap are aimed at preventing the supply of drugs in nightclubs and suspected trouble areas through undercover and surveillance works. Where positive results can be measured from policies, resources will be allocated to expand mainstream approaches.
Our coastline is far too porous for traffickers. Ports, borders and airports need much tighter monitoring and increased manpower. We should increase investment in staff and equipment for the Customs and Excise drugs unit. This Government has failed to increase the staff numbers in the Customs and Excise drugs team, to continue to finance, promote and expand the Criminal Assets Bureau and to target the proceeds of organised drugs crime. In contrast, the Government has been responsible for the resignation of the key figure and legal adviser to the CAB. It has failed to introduce mandatory ID cards to help tackle a serious underage drinking crisis. Fianna Fáil in Government has failed to introduce a voluntary age card scheme. Even more worrying is the failure to increase the number of gardaí on the beat at night in known hot spots of drug dealing.
We must lead from the front with a hard hitting national drugs awareness campaign aimed at targeting all ages, young and old, across the country. This Government has promised, but failed to deliver, an effective awareness campaign. Measures already being introduced through educational disadvantage will continue to be supported and broadened, where possible, but we need to create closer links between implementation bodies for the national drugs strategy team and other agencies. With assessment and treatment facilities in place, people will be able to access these services immediately. The State must be quick to respond and support persons who have made the choice to cease drug taking. We have to recognise the positive work done in the 13 local drugs task force areas and continue to support the various programmes.
The number of young people experimenting with drugs in our towns, villages and cities is growing at an alarming rate. Unfortunately, this country is moving towards the normalisation of recreational drugs. Drugs are not just available in urban areas; they have been found in the smallest villages and townlands and dealers are prepared to go into any area frequented by young people. We now have 13 and 14 year olds coming into contact with drugs and measures must be put in place to address this.
Drug dealing has gone high-tech with the advent of mobile phones. It is becoming increasingly difficult for gardaí to detect these drug dealers. Two or three years ago it was relatively easier but with the sophisticated technology available now, drug dealers can come from any area. Unfortunately, there is an acceptance of drug dealing among young people. Drug dealers are no longer the pariahs they once were. It part of the social circle. That acceptance is very worrying.
I am aware that in a major town a businessman was approached by a young girl from a middle class background who asked for a loan of €2,000. She explained to him that she wanted to buy ecstasy tablets. She was not looking at it from the perspective of the problem that could cause but as a legitimate business deal. In other words, if she borrowed €2,000 she would have enough money to buy the designer label clothes and accessories and live the so-called high lifestyle of her friends who were already involved in drug dealing. This sickening trend must stop.
Last Saturday night I attended the Roscommon Association dinner dance in Manchester. I have spoken frequently on the scourge of drugs facing our rural areas. One man called me aside and pleaded with me to do something about the scourge of drugs in Ireland before it is too late. He said he did not want to come back to Ireland and witness the scene of an agonising drug culture, which is what is associated with a city like Manchester.
This is possibly the most serious debate this House has had since I entered it. I ask the Minister to pay heed and act and give the Garda the necessary resources. Otherwise the youth in our communities will pay a terrible price in the future.