asked the Minister for Health the new facilities that have been made available for the treatment and rehabilitation of drug abusers as a result of the report of the ministerial task force on drug abuse.
491.
Written Answers. - Drug Abuse.
490.
asked the Minister for Health if he will list the recommendations of the Government task force on drug abuse, as outlined in his statement (paras. 1-6) of 20 September 1983, which have been implemented to date.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 490 and 491 together.
Each of the members of the Special Government Task Force on Drug Abuse has been given responsibility for ensuring that the recommendations relevant to them are implemented without any undue delay. The task force is currently monitoring progress made.
Significant progress has been made to date on most of the recommendations. On the law enforcement side a Bill to amend the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1977, has been circulated to Deputies and Second Stage will be taken today. The Criminal Justice Bill is also progressing through the Dáil at the moment. Additional ban-gardaí have been assigned to the drug units in Dublin, Cork and Limerick as recommended by the task force. A more rigorous checking system for applications for passports has also been introduced by the Department of Foreign Affairs. The recommendation relating to the appointment of one judge of the Circuit Court and one district justice who would have special responsibility for all cases involving drug offences in the Dublin area is being pursued with the appropriate authorities — so also is the recommendation relating to the appointment of one solicitor in the Chief State Solicitor's Office who would specialise in drug offence case work.
In the area of education, significant progress has also been made. A set of five video films has now been developed by the Department of Education, in co-operation with the Health Education Bureau, for use within the context of "life skills" type programmes in second level schools, youth club settings or with parent groups. The Minister for Education has asked the new Curriculum and Examinations Board to examine the introduction of health education in schools — at both primary and post-primary levels. It is also planned to develop the programmes of training in drugs education so that selected teachers would be able to attend longer courses and progress would be made towards the stated Government aim of having at least one teacher who will be in a position to advise on aspects of the drug problem in each school in "at risk" areas. I have also made money available to Trinity College to provide a diploma course in addiction studies. This course commenced in January 1984 and provides specialised training for workers in direct contact with drug abusers and their families. Such workers include social workers, teachers, guidance counsellors and the gardaí.
On the youth and community development side, the task force has met the Health Education Bureau, Cospóir, the National Youth Council and the National Youth Policy Committee. The task force is currently examining, in conjunction with all of the organisations involved, how the existing services are integrated at the point of delivery and how the services might be improved where necessary.
The Medico-Social Research Board are currently carrying out four research projects on specific aspects of the drug problem among adolescents. It is hoped to bring them to a conclusion within the next few months.
The position regarding the treatment and rehabilitation services is that discussions are on-going between representatives of my Department and the authorities of St. James's Hospital and Jervis Street Hospital concerning the recommendations of the Ministerial task force which relate to treatment facilities to be provided by both hospitals.
My Department have already had discussions with representatives of the Eastern Health Board and the Coolemine therapeutic community and I have made additional funds available this year to assist the Coolemine community in meeting the demands being made upon its services. The Eastern Health Board are examining, at my request, the specific needs of young people with drug-related problems and my Department are keeping in touch with the board in this regard. It will be clear from this that all of these recommendations are being vigorously pursued.