Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 October 2004
420 Mr. O’Connor asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the contacts he has had with community drugs groups in the Tallaght area in respect of problems with drug abuse considered by many to be worsening; the results of those contacts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25137/04]
View answerEarlier this year, I met representatives of a number of community based local drugs task force projects from Tallaght to discuss a range of issues of concern to them. I found this meeting useful and a number of the issues have since been progressed, including the question of funding shortfalls for projects that have been mainstreamed through the Departments of Health and Children and Education and Science. The mid-term review of the national drugs strategy is under way. The objective of the review is to examine the progress made to date in achieving the goals and actions set out in the strategy and to enable priorities for future action to be identified and a re-focusing of the strategy, if necessary, for the remaining period up to 2008. It is open to the Deputy or any of the drugs groups in Tallaght to make a written submission to the review on any issue of ongoing concern to them. In addition, it is open to them to attend the Dublin consultation session which is being held as part of the review in the Burlington Hotel on Thursday next, 21 October, at 6 p.m.
