I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Joe McHugh.
Commencement Matters
Undocumented Irish in the USA
I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this Commencement matter and welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Joe McHugh, to discuss this important issue. These past few months have proved that we do indeed live in very uncertain times as witnessed by the Brexit result in the United Kingdom, the election of President Donald Trump in the United States and the recent referendum loss for the Italian Prime Minister. They have shown that a groundswell of popular discontent is brewing across the western world. In fact, some even see these wins as a turning point in western democracy and a rejection of so-called globalism, with a return to isolationism and nationalism. The world appears more divided today. Marginal communities, be they immigrants, refugees, Muslims, LGBTQ or people of colour, are feeling unsafe and more afraid in many countries.
On this island we unfortunately understand only too well the dangers of a divided society. We live in a land that has witnessed centuries of bloodshed, social exclusion and emigration, yet today we constantly rank as one of the best places in which to live. I argue that this is in no small measure due to the outward looking and welcoming nature of Irish people and our renewed desire to embrace and respect diversity. In recent times our ability to absorb and integrate so many new immigrants so quickly into the State has been unprecedented in the modern era. It is reflective of our society's inclusive nature. Unfortunately, however, many of the 150,000 Irish immigrants living in the United States do not feel that same sense of welcome of late, especially the 50,000 undocumented Irish.
The issue of immigration was front and centre in the recent controversial US presidential election campaign. The President-elect even called for mass deportations and a wall on the southern US border. America is a nation of immigrants and home to 40 million Irish Americans, representing all shades of diversity and political opinion. The American people have spoken and Donald Trump will assume office next month as the 45th President of the United States. I can only hope the great strides made in recent years to make the United States a more welcoming country for immigrants will be built on, not undone.
In my adopted home city of Chicago, Illinois, we have passed pro-immigrant legislation that protects families and reaffirms the contributions of all immigrants. The majority of the American people of all political persuasions have consistently shown in poll after poll that they support common sense immigration reform. The Taoiseach has raised the issue of the undocumented Irish and immigration reform with President-elect Trump and Vice President-elect Pence. I welcome the Government's commitment to keeping this issue to the fore with the new administration.
I am also aware that our ambassador to the United States, Ms Anne Anderson, will host a meeting with Irish groups in Washington DC in mid-January to develop a comprehensive united strategy for the undocumented Irish. I ask the Minister of State what the Government's plans are concerning the undocumented Irish in the USA. I would like him to share with this House the Government's strategy to support Irish American community groups on the ground, as well as the plans to engage with Irish America in this new era.
Cuirim fáilte roimh an gceist seo atá thar a bheith tábhachtach. Bhí mé i mo Sheanadóir ó 2002 go dtí 2007 agus gabhaim mo bhuíochas leis na Seanadóirí as an bhfáilte go dtí an Teach inniu. I thank the Senator for placing this important topic on the agenda. The roles occupied by him and me bear testament to the strong commitment of the Government and the Taoiseach, in particular, to the diaspora. I have had the privilege of serving as the State’s second Minister of State with responsibility for the diaspora, following former Deputy Jimmy Deenihan. The role was created by the Taoiseach in 2014. The Senator was nominated to this House by the Taoiseach in recognition of his strong record in advocating for Irish immigrants abroad, particularly in the United States.
I welcome the opportunity to brief the House on our approach to immigration reform in the United States and work to further develop links with the Irish community in that country. This topic is particularly relevant and timely given the recent presidential and congressional elections in the United States. As Senators will be aware, the new President will be inaugurated on 20 January 2017. Members of the House will appreciate the relationship between Ireland and the United States is complex and multi-layered. It is based on shared values, as well as our deep political and economic ties. These links are reinforced by the close family links between our two countries which go back many generations and have been sustained by migratory flows across the Atlantic. The Government is acutely conscious of the issue of immigration reform in the United States. The Taoiseach, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Charles Flanagan, other members of the Government and I have regular engagement with the diaspora whenever we travel. Our embassy network also does great work in maintaining links between the diaspora and Ireland, with recent arrivals and those whose forebears left Ireland many generations ago. In my capacity as the Minister of State with responsibility for the diaspora, it is my job to connect with and support Irish communities abroad. I am charged with the implementation of our diaspora strategy and committed to our emigrant support programme. I have seen the benefits of that programme first hand when meeting Irish communities and their representatives in cities, including Boston, San Francisco and New York. I acknowledge the Senator's role in part of the visit to Boston where he introduced me to a number of people he knows and in introducing me to the nuances of issues in dealing with those who are undocumented.
I take the opportunity to pay tribute to the immigration centres that carry out important work and ensure the Government is kept apprised of challenges facing the community. That contact is vital and I look forward to further engagement with the professional and committed staff who work on a daily basis with Irish immigrants in the United States, including those who are undocumented. The Government has adopted a two-pronged approach to immigration reform in the United States. We are seeking to regularise the status of those who are undocumented and also pursuing a dedicated quota for legal immigration from Ireland. We have and will continue to press for a solution for the undocumented Irish. The support of politicians in the United States is essential and during my recent visit to Boston, I had the opportunity to meet Governor Baker of Massachusetts, Mayor Marty Walsh of Boston and representatives of local organisations. While a new US Administration and a new Congress will take time to settle in, nevertheless, the Government will continue to pursue this issue in our contacts with the new Administration and congressional leaders and to encourage and promote viable prospects for a solution to the plight of those who are undocumented.
The Government continues to strongly advocate on the issue of immigration reform in the United States at every appropriate opportunity with our contacts in the United States, including at the highest level. The Taoiseach has raised the subject with President Obama on a number of occasions and more recently we are aware that President-elect Trump has made some public comments on his planned policies around immigration. The Taoiseach raised the matter of immigration reform with both President-elect Trump and Vice President-elect Pence last month. Furthermore, the Minister, Deputy Charles Flanagan, raised the matter with Speaker Paul Ryan on 23 November last. Speaker Ryan, a proud Irish-American with a keen understanding of the importance the Government attaches to this issue, indicated that he was hopeful of progress on this issue in the new Congress.
I acknowledge the work of our embassy in Washington DC and our consulates across the United States which continue to set out Ireland’s position on immigration reform at every opportunity. I note that Ambassador Anderson will host a meeting with key stakeholders in the Irish-American community, including the Coalition of Irish Immigration Centres, on the issue of immigration reform at the Embassy of Ireland, in Washington DC on 12 January next.
Engagements by the Taoiseach, the Minister and other members of the Government in the United States in mid-March on the occasion of St. Patrick’s Day will afford us an early opportunity to engage with the new US Administration at the highest level on issues of concern to Ireland, in particular immigration reform.
I thank the Minister of State for his response. I am delighted that the Government is looking for a dedicated quota for Ireland, but, unfortunately, we lost 17,500 visas in 1965 and never recovered them. This is one issue I would like to pursue also.
Lest I forget, three years ago I lobbied for the Bill that was passed in the Senate. It was a full and comprehensive Bill that had bipartisan support and provision for 10,500 visas in perpetuity for Ireland, but, unfortunately, it never went to the House. The President-elect has threatened that he will rescind President Obama's order for deferred action for childhood arrivals, DACA. More than 740,000 applicants acquired DACA a couple of years ago, a small number of whom were Irish. The President-elect has also threatened to withdraw federal funding for the sanctuary cities, which include Chicago, Boston, New York, Seattle and San Francisco. In those cities, law enforcement officials do not co-operate with the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE.
It is a worrying time, but the Minister of State is aware of that and I thank him for his response. I will have to keep the pressure on the Government. To be fair to the Minister of State, when he does come, the lobbying is direct, but let us get back to where we were in 1965 by seeking the 17,000 visas we had.
I again thank the Senator. I will point to the very real human stories behind the issue. The Senator knows them at a personal level in Chicago and other places. I met someone who had been in the United States since 1986. To put the matter into perspective, that was the year I did what was not the junior certificate but the intermediate certificate examinations at the time. That man has remained undocumented since 1986, which demonstrates the real human impact. Another person told me that he had put his two teenagers on a plane to Ireland, although he could not join them. The Senator knows the stories and has heard the anecdotes too.
The clear message I get from the undocumented Irish in America is that there has to be a solution. There is always a solution. I think that is part of the Irish psyche. Our backs have been against the wall many times. I spoke about the tradition of migratory flows on the other side of the Atlantic, but they have not been just to America directly; they have also been through Canada, as well as to the United Kingdom, in the main, and the rest of the world. It is when their backs are against the wall that Irish people deliver. That is when they try to figure things out. The consistent request that has been made of me in my role is for the Government to sustain the pressure. We are doing it at the highest level. I am open to suggestion from this House and continuing the relationship with the Senator, whose position offers a vital foothold into American communities. We have to keep this issue high on the agenda. I am prepared to return to the United States early in the new year to meet communities there again and keep the issue live.
On a final note and in agreement with the Senator's first remarks, we do live in a different world. It is a world where perhaps minds are dominated by fear, retreat and isolationism. However, the Irish are global in their outlook and confident in facing the worst of adversity. We also are pragmatic and able to come up with common-sense solutions. Given the 36 million to 37 million people who claim Irish ancestry and the massive amount of business conducted on an east-west basis through foreign direct investment in this country and vice versa, we have a concrete relationship with the United States. There is hope. We have a duty to figure this out and find a solution.
Institutes of Technology
I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this Commencement matter and welcome the Minister for Education and Skills. I thank him for taking this serious matter related to the Mayo campus of the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology.
It disappoints me greatly to have to discuss what has happened on the Mayo campus of the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology. The Mayo campus was established following a long and hard fought campaign dating back to the mid-1980s. The case was fought vigorously by chambers of commerce and educational interests. Mr. Paddy McGuinness ran as a candidate in a by-election in County Mayo in 1994. There had been various commitments given by various Governments over many years, including by the late former Taoiseach Dr. Garret FitzGerald. There was a realisation there was a need for a Mayo regional technical college, as such colleges were known at the time, because Mayo was, geographically, the third largest county in Ireland and a high percentage of students from the county went on to third level education, more than from any other county at the time. Great sacrifices were made by the parents of students from the county. Free secondary school education was introduced in the late 1960s. Parents fought to send their children to third level institutions, with the result that a case could be made to have a regional technical college in Castlebar. It was eventually rolled out, in association with Galway Regional Technical College. It was felt the best possible thing to do was to have a Mayo campus as part of Galway Regional Technical College, as it was known at the time. This approach was accepted and it was expected courses would be established and linked with a major regional technical college.
The Higher Education Authority was the funding model used for regional technical colleges and various outreach campuses throughout the country, but the Mayo campus involves more than just funding. There is a need for a root and branch review of the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology and the Castlebar campus, not just in terms of money but also from the point of view of governance.
Some people are afraid to speak out, but they should do so. I have received a large amount of correspondence about what is taking place in Castlebar. Part of a letter I received from a woman reads:
Our campus is particularly angry at this sectarian language that is being used because as far as we are concerned we are part of the same reserves/resources. While we would welcome ring-fenced funding and recognise the financial issues with sustaining the campus, this language of "them and us" is actually an issue that has been a feature of the Mayo campus reality for many years.
Recent letters from the Higher Education Authority have referred to such matters. The letter continues:
The Mayo campus has a vibrant, dynamic community of staff that are utterly dedicated to what we do. We have, over the years, come up with multitudes of solutions to the issues we have faced. I am so frustrated by the fact that we want to do our jobs, we want to fulfil our remit to the region, but unfortunately we have been subjected to a sustained attack and cannibalism of our intellectual property by the Galway Campus.
Whenever resources are mentioned, Mayo have to do everything under existing resources (on the Mayo campus), whereas Mayo Campus resources are considered a "pool of resources" to be shared with Galway. In other words, "what's ours is ours and what's yours is yours." We have been subjected to ridiculous levels of scrutiny, way above and beyond what happens on the Galway Campus or other Institutes when it comes to course validation.
That suggests that when the Mayo campus comes up with a course it wants to run, it is subject to undue validation compared to other institutions throughout the country.
The letter continues:
We also know that enquiries for our courses that go to Galway are often met with apathy, misinformation and deliberate attempts to get them on a course in Galway.
When students in Galway inquire about courses taking place in Castlebar and if a similar course is taking place in Galway, people in Galway push them to go to Galway where everything is much better. Of course, we know this well from the health board previously; Galway wants everything at the expense of Roscommon, Mayo and other counties.
As I have said previously in the House, the Mayo campus has been bullied by the Galway campus for many years and strict action is needed. The Minister needs to investigate the matter. The Mayo campus needs to be looked at in detail. It is much more than a funding issue. I ask the Minister to establish a team of investigation to see what is taking place.
I will deal with the general issue first. I believe regional institutions will be crucial to our long-term competitiveness and ability to ensure the regions can compete and build a genuine sustainable competitive advantage. Everyone recognises that one of the key priorities is not only to build on the 200,000 jobs we have delivered with another 200,000 in the coming period but also to ensure a regional spread. The institutes of education will be crucial in that regard.
We recognise that the entire higher education sector has been under sustained funding pressure. These institutes do not have the same funding model applied elsewhere, with pupil-teacher ratios at primary and second level protecting investment. They have been managing exceptionally well against a background of diminishing resources and rising student numbers.
We are reviewing higher education funding. As the Senator will be aware, this year I received a commitment from the Government to invest €36 million. I have also received a commitment that for the next three years there will be an escalator in order that with, rising student enrolments, there will be an increased commitment worth €160 million. I have also agreed to work with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Paschal Donohoe, to develop an Exchequer employer investment mechanism. Beyond this, the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Skills is examining the report by Mr. Peter Cassells on long-term funding sources.
A recent HEA report indicated the financial pressure that was emerging in institutes of technology. The HEA met GMIT as one of the bodies experiencing financial difficulties. The HEA has a policy framework in place for engaging with vulnerable institutes of technology which has been triggered in this case. It requires institutes of technology to submit a three-year plan to return them to a balanced budget. If an institute is unable to demonstrate how a return to a balanced budget can be achieved within this timeframe or if actual performance deviates significantly from the plan, the HEA will seek the appointment of an independent financial expert to work with the governing body and the executive management team to agree a revised plan and programme of remedial action.
The first of what is expected to be a series of meetings was held last week between the GMIT executive and the HEA to discuss a number of issues related to the financial position of the institute, including those specific to the Castlebar campus. A financial management plan has been submitted to the governing authority of GMIT and it is expected this plan will be further discussed at the next meeting in January. In the meantime the HEA is continuing to work with GMIT management to address the issues at the institute.
The HEA has reiterated its commitment to multi-campus provision, as supported by the national strategy for higher education. I share that commitment. The HEA has also stated plans for the future of GMIT must support the sustainable development of all campuses, including the Castlebar campus. The HEA states it is committed to examining the issue of the funding of regional campuses as part of its review of the funding model which is under way.
I am not aware of the evidence supporting the case the Senator made that there has been sectarian language from the HEA. If he wants to bring it to my attention, I will certainly pursue the matter. With allegations of the poaching of students, etc., it appears that feelings are running high.
If we are to develop a successful model to ensure the long-term path for GMIT, including Castlebar, there are issues that need to be overcome. I am not going to establish some special review body in respect of something of this nature.
Clearly, if issues are brought to my attention, I will ensure the HEA investigates them. Having said that, the HEA is developing a relationship with GMIT in the context of the financial difficulties. That is the best route through which these issues can surface and be addressed. We are determined to get a strong institute of technology network for the long term. It is our view that we should see stronger integration of such institutions within a technological university concept. As such, it is our desire to see the merger of various institutions, while preserving the multiple campus locations which are key to regional diversity.
If the Senator wishes to bring forward concerns that need to be addressed in the review, I will be happy to do so. If there is evidence supporting the various matters raised in the emails from which he read, we will happily examine it. However, I am not going to set up a sort of star chamber review of activity. We need to develop a governance model that can ensure the viability of this institution with all of its campuses. That is where our attention will be devoted.
I thank the Minister for the reply. I have no doubt that he is fully committed to institutes of technology which are required to link with industry. However, I note for the Minister that the Mayo campus has no head. All departments now report to the Galway campus, which is a significant downgrading. The person has handed in her notice. She was put on a one-year contract and left for quite a long period before the contract was eventually handed out to her for this year. She has now resigned. As such, the Minister's Department has to ask why she has tendered her resignation. The Minister said he did not know about these issues and I have no doubt that he did not. They would not have been brought to his attention. As I said, the campus in Castlebar has been bullied by the campus in Galway, which is not good enough. I still ask the Minister at this stage to get some official in his Department to investigate what is going on.
Any matter that is brought to our attention will be examined by the HEA in the context of the development of the viability plan. The plan is going to the board which will have an opportunity to consider it. I have to recognise that where an institution is in financial difficulty, there will be higher levels of accountability and scrutiny expected of all parts of it. Demanding higher levels of accountability and scrutiny in the current climate is not necessarily an indication of a vindictive attitude.
I am not familiar with the reason the head of campus has resigned. Of course, that is a decision a person will make, but we will seek to ensure there is proper leadership in the Castlebar campus in order that it can be a full part of the planned development. The key is to ensure this strong institute with a very strong tradition can be protected in a period where there is financial pressure on the institutes generally. As I say, the wider context is that we are increasing investment in this area and that will be available to all institutions for which they can compete in order that they can deliver improved services.
Ambulance Service Accommodation
As this is my second time addressing the Minister of State on this issue, I will just go over why I have called her back for some answers today. Following the health and safety audit of the building in which Carlow ambulance and paramedic services were located, the building was condemned as it was deemed to be not fit for purpose. In the light of this, I asked the Minister for Health for an alternative suitable location. As the Minister of State will appreciate, the ambulance and paramedic staff are a vital asset to Carlow and the south east and give great support to the community, particularly in times of illness and tragedy. The ambulance service in Carlow consists of 18 staff - four women and 14 men - and is based in two prefabs with no hot water, a leaking roof and a sewerage problem. The stores are located in a different building and, as the Minister of State can imagine, having to cross over to a different building during winter evenings is not ideal and puts staff in a very vulnerable position.
On 20 October 2016, I addressed the health and safety audit carried out on the current building. The reply I received from the Minister of State in the Seanad was that works were planned to rectify the issues relating to the shower and the changing room facilities and that the depot was fully operational. It is welcome that the depot in Carlow is still operational, for which I thank the ambulance and paramedic service because it is providing a great service. The Minister of State's reply referred to removing the 15-year old portakabin installed as a temporary measure 15 years ago, fixing the sewerage problem and replacing the portakabin with a new one. I told the Minister of State that something more permanent could be made available to the service. The ambulance and paramedic service in Carlow is located on the campus of St. Dympna's Hospital and in the past used the old day hospital in this complex as a temporary measure. Renovating this section of the building would be a far more suitable solution where not only the shower and changing room facilities would be addressed but a kitchen area and lockers could be provided. As the Minister of State is aware, the storage area is in a different building; therefore, this would mean a lot. Surely investing money in a new portakabin is not the long-term solution. All things considered, it would be a far wiser and more long-term investment to renovate this old building.
I also contacted the office of the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government several times, including on 18 November when I looked for further clarification. Meetings with the paramedics and management have taken place and they have come together to address some of the concerns. My understanding is the old prefab is being done up. That is unacceptable. I do not think that in 2016, 18 ambulance drivers and paramedics should be left in a prefab that is 15 years old. When I originally addressed the Minister of State, she mentioned a new prefab, but I believe there is no word of it. My understanding is that work is ongoing on the old prefab. The reason I called the Minister of State back to the House is I need confirmation about what is happening. I again compliment the paramedic staff because they do trojan work and are located in a building that is unfit for purpose.
I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Health. I thank the Senator for raising the issue and giving me the opportunity to update the House on the ambulance base in Carlow.
The National Ambulance Service has experienced ongoing difficulties with a prefabricated building that forms part of the station facilities at Carlow ambulance base in the grounds of St. Dympna's Hospital. In response to concerns identified by staff and following a review undertaken as part of a health and safety audit, some deficiencies were identified. I understand urgent remedial works were carried out to ensure the immediate safety of the ambulance base. While the base is functional, the National Ambulance Service has engaged with HSE estates in order to explore a number of options with regard to the Carlow base for the longer term, taking into consideration operational and staff requirements and associated costs of options considered. One of the options under consideration is remaining on the St. Dympna's campus but in a different location. Depending on the length of time it will take to progress the permanent option, it may be necessary for the National Ambulance Service to rent a modern prefabricated structure as an interim solution. However, I am advised that management is engaged on a continuous basis with the staff at Carlow ambulance base. I have also been assured by the ambulance service that there will be no disruption to the provision of emergency ambulance services for the people of Carlow.
The House is aware the National Ambulance Service has undergone a significant process of modernisation in recent years and a number of important innovations and developments have taken place. We have established a national emergency operation centre and provided important technology to improve response times. We have developed the intermediate care service to provide lower acute hospital transfers, which frees up emergency ambulances for more urgent calls. We have also established the permanent emergency aeromedical support service to provide more timely responses for people living in rural areas. We are looking at an alternative to the current model of care which requires every patient to be brought to an emergency department. The options under consideration include hear and treat, whereby clinical advice is provided over the telephone for callers who can than, if appropriate, be referred to other care pathways.
The ambulance reform programme is taking place against the backdrop of the HIQA review of the ambulance service published in 2014 and the National Ambulance Service capacity review published earlier this year. The review was undertaken by Lightfoot Solutions. The UK-based consultant firm examined overall ambulance resource levels and distribution against demands and activities. Implementation of the recommendations made in the capacity review will require a multiannual programme of phased investment in ambulance manpower, vehicles and technology. To this end, increased funding will be available to the National Ambulance Service for 2017. The details of the improvement will be provided in the HSE's 2017 national service plan which will be published shortly.
I thank the Minister of State for her reply which is the same as the one I received more than a month ago. My real anger is with the HSE and the lack of information I receive from the Minister, Deputy Simon Harris. I am constantly emailing, but I am still none the wiser. Is the new prefab temporary? The Minister of State has said a different area of the St. Dympna's Hospital campus is being considered, but there is no clarification. I know that small works have been done, which I welcome, but I am asking whether a new prefab will be put in place. Will the service be kept on the campus at St. Dympna's Hospital in the long term? What is the long-term plan? I have no answers for the people I represent. This is the same answer I received previously, apart from the reference to the small works which have been done. Will the Minister of State clarify the position for me?
There are some similarities in the reply, but a different location is being looked at on the campus. A temporary new prefab is also being considered because of the structural work that must be done. I am not familiar with the campus or the building being considered. It is very clear to me consultation has been taking place with the staff and services in Carlow. I will bring the Senator's remarks to the Minister and hope she will receive a more comprehensive reply.
That would be appreciated.
I will relay to him that there does not seem to have been any definite decision in the reply. I certainly will come back to the Senator on this issue. I apologise again, but there are a number of indications that something is happening. On a long-term basis and with immediate effect, more decisions should be made more quickly. I will bring this issue back to the Minister.
National Drugs Strategy
I thank the Minister of State for her time. Last week, as I was submitting this Commencement matter for debate, it struck me that what I wanted to discuss was how best the two briefs in the Minister of State's remit could be combined. It is no coincidence that responsibility for communities and the national drugs strategy was placed in the same portfolio, as it seems extraordinarily clear that there is a close and symbiotic relationship between the two issues.
The Health Research Board's report shows that in 2014, 697 drug-related deaths occurred, which represented a 62% increase since 2004. The community has a clear and vital role to play in how we formulate drug and alcohol policy. I call on the Minister of State to formally recognise this crucial role in the new national drugs strategy and include a community pillar.
The inclusion of a new community pillar in the national response to drugs would place communities at the centre of the drugs strategy in a number of ways. The principal reason that there is a national drugs strategy in the first place is the actions of besieged and desperate communities in the 1980s. The slow State response to the heroin epidemic that ravaged communities in that period empowered them to apply upward pressure and force the State to respond in the form of the Rabbitte ministerial reports and the establishment of local drugs task forces. As a result, communities became responsible for the creation of a strategy and supporting it from the beginning, despite their role not formally being recognised. I am calling on the Minister of State to give it formal recognition, given the risk of problematic drug use being medicalised and overtly focused on the individual drug user, as well as the risk of a new drugs strategy operating without any reference to the social context in which drug use happens. Drug use is entrenched in communities and, as a result, community participation is central in addressing its multifaceted nature. The strategy's effectiveness would be amplified by unequivocal support for communities on the ground. Community development could be the methodology through which we built bridges between drug users, the wider community and the national strategy. If we do not do this but continue viewing drug use as an issue that only affects the individual, the socioeconomic origins of problematic drug use will not and cannot change.
I hope the call I am making is constructive. It could allow a new national drugs strategy to have a successful and long-term impact. Having a community pillar is a question of creating equality of conditions in people's lives. A new strategy needs to incorporate how we address the inequalities that result in issues relating to drug use. If the Minister of State wishes the strategy to have a lasting and meaningful impact, we must recognise these inequalities and determine how to change the nature and patterns of drug use and the conditions in the lives of citizens that lead to them in the first place. There is a strong and clear relationship between drug use and inequality. A successful drugs strategy needs to recognise this.
The Department has just completed a public consultation on the strategy. While I welcomed the opportunity given to stakeholders to contribute to policy formulation, I was concerned that the relatively short six-week period might have meant that community organisations were unable to make sufficiently detailed and robust submissions. That is why I am raising this matter. The strategy is nearing completion and a community role would need some time to be developed at a policy level. I call on the Minister of State to include a reference to a community role that would allow her Department and stakeholders to work on the practicalities. I recognise the important work that the Department is doing and that there have been several thousand submissions. I wish the Minister of State well in that endeavour and look forward to working with her when the strategy is complete.
The national drug-related deaths index was published this morning. The figures are shocking. There is a serious issue that needs to be addressed, not only within communities but also by the Government and the nation. I will not say we will continue monitoring the situation, as monitoring is not good enough. Through the national drugs strategy, we will identify why so many people are losing their lives due to addiction and poisoning.
I thank the Senator for raising this issue and giving me the opportunity to outline the development of the new national drugs strategy. The overall objective of the national drugs strategy 2009 to 2016 was to tackle the harm caused to individuals and society by the misuse of drugs. Concern focused on the pillars of supply reduction, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and research. I am keenly aware from my work in my community that the drug problem is a complex and challenging issue that has damaging consequences for those who use drugs, their families, the wider community and society. The impact of drug-related intimidation and criminality threatens the safety and security of many communities. This has been particularly evident in the light of the recent events in Dublin's north inner city and other areas throughout the country.
Drug-related deaths are a stark reminder of the impact of the drug problem in communities. The latest figures published by the Health Research Board today indicate that almost two people died each day in 2014 as a result of poisoning, trauma or medical causes linked with drug misuse. More than 690 people died in 2014, similar to the number reported in 2013.
Many of those tragic deaths were premature, with half of all the deaths in 2004 among those aged 39 years or younger. This illustrates the need for a strategic approach to deliver better outcomes for those affected by addiction.
As the House will be aware, a steering committee has been established to advise me on a new national drugs strategy. The committee has been mandated to develop an integrated public health approach to substance misuse in line with the commitment in the programme for Government to support a health-led approach to drug use.
I am aware that the Senator led calls for the inclusion of a community pillar in the new strategy in the course of the recent public consultation process. While the structure of the new strategy has not yet been agreed by the steering committee, I agree that it is important to maintain the focus on communities, whether it is achieved by having a dedicated community pillar or through other means.
The Senator is correct in identifying the fact that we received a substantial number of contributions during the public consultation process, but we also had more than 2,000 questionnaires returned. More than 350 submissions were received, with many telephone calls. For the first time there was a real opportunity for communities to participate not only by telephone and through community groups but also by means of a questionnaire. We are processing all of the contributions received. The process will take some time to complete, but we are moving in the right direction.
The Department of Health is developing a performance measurement framework for drug and alcohol task forces which will provide an objective way of targeting funding allocations having regard to the drugs problem and demographic factors in task force areas. This work will feed into the new strategy and help to ensure resources will be directed towards the communities which are facing a higher risk of substance misuse. I understand the steering committee is continuing its deliberations. I look forward to receiving its final report on the new national drugs strategy early in the new year.
I wish to make two brief comments. I thank the Minister of State for her contribution. I reiterate how vital the community pillar is, even in underpinning the existing pillars. The vast number of contributions the Minister of State has received shows the level of community participation that is necessary. I urge the Minister of State to include it, notwithstanding any reference in the submissions to the need for a community pillar. The fact that the community sector engaged shows the need for a community pillar, even if it did not have the ability to overtly call for such a pillar. I hope the Minister of State will take this into account when the submissions are being reviewed.
I very much appreciate the Senator's contribution to and participation in the public consultation process. As she is aware, I come from a community-oriented background and know and understand the difficulties and the work being done in communities. This morning I was in Tallaght visiting various groups and was taken aback by the work being done on the ground. If we intend to tackle the drugs problem, the work must begin in the community. It cannot be started in the Taoiseach's office or anywhere else. Actions can only take place if support comes from the top down, but the people who know what is best are working on the ground and living in the communities they represent. They deal on a daily basis with the individuals, including young people, who are being used for criminal activity. They also include older people who for whatever reason have been dragged into addiction problems and find themselves in their late 50s and 60s still very much engaged in substance abuse.
When I have the draft report on my desk, I intend to make sure I will be very happy with the content. All I can tell the Senator is that nothing has been ruled out. I give her a commitment that if I feel something is missing, I will make it very clear to the Department and the Minister for Health that without specific pillars being identified in the report, it will not work. We must bring communities with us as part of the national drugs strategy. They are the ones who on a daily basis try to involve others to have some normality in their lives. I again thank the Senator for raising this very important matter.
Sitting suspended at 3.25 p.m. and resumed at 3.30 p.m.