Vol. 481 No. 5
2 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Taoiseach if the Cabinet committee to be chaired by the Taoiseach to oversee the implementation of the Government's comprehensive drugs strategy has been established; if so, its membership and its terms of reference and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14858/97]
The Deputy will be aware that the previous Government established a Cabinet Drugs Committee in October 1996 arising from a report of the Ministerial Task Force on Measures to Reduce the Demand for Drugs. The purpose of the Cabinet committee was to give overall political leadership in the fight against drugs; to review all trends in the drugs problem; to assess progress in the strategy in dealing with both the supply and demand aspects and to resolve any policy or organisational difficulties which may have inhibited an effective response to the problem. The committee was chaired by the former Taoiseach and comprised the Ministers for Health, Justice, Environment, Education and the Deputy himself as Minister of State to Government.
When the present Government came into office, and recognising the links between social exclusion, drug abuse and alienation, the Taoiseach decided that the most strategic way to tackle the problem of social exclusion was to reconstitute the drugs committee into a wider Cabinet committee which would address disadvantage in the broadest sense. The particular elements which were closely linked were the work being done under the Local Development Operational Programme, the National Anti-poverty Strategy and the National Drugs Strategy. Therefore, to deal with all these factors in a more comprehensive way and as part of our strategy of crime prevention, the Government decided in July to establish a Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion and Drugs, including Local Development.
The committee will deal with all the elements of the problem in a holistic manner and will build on and advance the good work of the former Cabinet Drugs Committee. With enhanced representation at ministerial level it will be possible to focus action across all relevant Government Departments, agencies and programmes.
The committee comprises the Taoiseach, as chairperson; the Tánaiste; the Minister for Finance; the Minister for the Environment and Local Government; the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs; the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform; the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation; the Minister for Health and Children, the Minister for Education and Science and, of course, myself.
Finally, I take this opportunity to acknowledge and pay tribute to the work initiated by Deputy Rabbitte in relation to the drugs problem. It is the intention of this Government to continue to build on that work.
I thank the Minister for his kind remarks. I take it that the ministerial task force established by the previous Government and which produced two reports, the second one focusing on the position in the prisons in particular, is no longer in existence, that it is not the intention of the Government to re-establish it and that it has been subsumed into the broader Cabinet committee. How many times has the Cabinet committee convened?
It is inaccurate to say that the task force committee mentioned by the Deputy is no longer in existence. It has been expanded to take account not only of the misuse of drugs but the holistic need to deal with the causes of huge levels of drug misuse in certain areas. The committee has met on one occasion.
We may be at cross purposes. There was a clear distinction between the Cabinet subcommittee and the committee of Ministers that worked on a weekly basis on the production of the reports. My understanding is that there is but a single committee. I am not necessarily criticising this as it may have merit.
Has the National Drugs Strategy team been established as a unit separate from the Departments from which its membership was drawn? Does it have a separate existence and location as was the intention and is it the body charged with driving the fight to reduce demand for drugs?
I confirm that the National Drugs Strategy team is in existence and I am chairing it. It is located in my Department, continues to have regular meetings and to drive forward the proposals which have come to it through the local drugs task forces. It will continue this work to ensure the proposals are implemented as speedily as possible and that other policy matters which need to be addressed are examined.
Has this new and very large committee commissioned any specific work or set a date for its next meeting? Has it developed or does it intend developing a framework for the youth services development fund of £20 million to which is to be added the proceeds of seized criminal assets? Has that matter specifically come up for discussion and is there a framework in place under which those moneys will be devoted to the drugs problem and the development of youth services in the areas affected?
Both those proposals continue to be part and parcel of the policy and there is no change in either of them. As far as the actual work of the Cabinet subcommittee is concerned the Deputy, as a former Minister, will be aware it is not normal practice to divulge details of discussions which take place at Cabinet subcommittees. However, we have had very full discussion of the problems associated with deprived areas, especially those associated with drugs. My participation on that committee will give me an opportunity to have a major input to the work. We are trying to tackle not only the issue of drug misuse but to deal with the other causes, with which the Deputy is familiar, of deprivation, unemployment and many other issues.
How many members of the Cabinet are on the subcommittee? Is the committee a replication virtually of the Cabinet? What are its mechanisms to have an input to the budget discussions and negotiations currently taking place and will it make proposals relation to the tax reforms, the social welfare reforms, the housing reforms, housing management reforms and the housing estates that are required? In what way will this subcommittee have an input to the forthcoming Cabinet decisions in relation to the budget?
The Cabinet subcommittee involves the Taoiseach, as chairperson, the Tánaiste, the Minister for Finance, the Minister for the Environment and Local Government, the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, the Minister for Health and Children, the Minister for Education and Science and myself. Part of the remit of the Cabinet subcommittee is that all Ministers would bring to committee their own expertise for dealing with social exclusion. The Cabinet subcommittee will now deal with social exclusion and drugs, including local development. Both those issues are interrelated.
Will the Minister answer the question I asked? What mechanism is there for delivering on the deliberations of the Cabinet subcommittee? A drugs strategy committee will deliver on the implementation of the drugs aspect. What mechanism is there for delivering on all the other aspects of social exclusion which the Minister has rightly said is the basis of much of the drug abuse but is not the basis of all drug abuse in the State?
The purpose of the other ministerial memberships of the Cabinet subcommittee is to do precisely what I have said.
The Minister does not have a mechanism.
That is to come together to discuss in detail the various aspects concerning social exclusion and drugs——
It is a complete whitewash.
——and how best to deal with those issues, particularly in a co-ordinated fashion. That is the reason membership of the Cabinet subcommittee is as I have outlined.
Co-ordination on what basis?
I expect that notable progress will be made.
It is utter whitewash.
Given the growing problem of substance abuse not only in urban areas but in rural communities, will the Minister of State consider setting up an all-party committee on substance abuse and its causes with adequate backup facilities and resources? Will he comment on an article in one of yesterday's newspapers which stated that 60 per cent of students in one university have tried prohibited drugs? As the youngest Member I am disappointed the chairperson of the Cabinet subcommittee and the Minister of State with responsibility for youth affairs have both left the Chamber since the question was tabled.
The Deputy's last remark is unfair in that I have dealt adequately with my brief. As chairperson of the national drugs strategy team it is a disappointment to read a report, if accurate, on the number of students involved in taking illegal substances. I take this opportunity to caution students that the best way not to become addicted to illegal substances is not to start. I had the privilege to launch a third level report and investigation into drug misuse on behalf of the Union of Students in Ireland recently where I made that point. With regard to the Deputy's first question, the investigation of substance misuse, how best to deal with it and the methods of treatment being proposed are under consideration by the drugs strategy team.
Will the Minister agree that while the Cabinet subcommittee is welcome the problem has to be tackled within local authority functional areas? Is the Minister of State aware the Minister for the Environment has issued instructions to local authorities to strengthen their hands in relation to drugs activity in local authority functional areas? When the committee has completed its work what are the Minister's plans to co-ordinate that at local level in conjunction with local authorities, the Garda and local groups?
The establishment of the local drugs task force involves a wide membership drawing on the voluntary and statutory agencies operating in the area. In many of these areas there is a large number of local authority units of accommodation. I take the point made by the Deputy that it is important the local authority, as the manager of local authority housing estates, would implement the legislation on the management of housing. The involvement of local authorities in their own housing estates is important. It is important they work in a co-ordinated fashion and support the local drugs task forces which are operating effectively.
As a fellow constituency colleague I congratulate the Minister of State on his recent appointment. He is ideally placed in a constituency which is suffering way above the average as a result of the drugs problem. How frequently is it intended to have meetings of the Cabinet sub-committee? The real measure of success behind the drugs programme, during the past 12 months or so, has been the fresh moneys which has come from Government operated by the local task force. Has the Minister had discussions with the Minister for Finance on the next round of funding and, if so, will he elaborate on his views of the fresh moneys for 1998?
I thank the Deputy for his kind remarks. I assure him Members on all sides of the House will do their best to make significant progress on this issue. In regard to future funding, discussions have taken place with the Minister for Finance but, as the Deputy will be aware, it would neither be possible nor correct for me to give details regarding progress on that matter. However, information will be available in good time.
What is the frequency of the Cabinet meetings?
That is a matter for the Taoiseach to decide. The national drugs strategy team is occupying most of my time as Minister of State. I intend to operate the mandate given me by the Taoiseach to the fullest extent.
(Dublin West): Is the Government aware of the burning urgency of the heroin crisis, particularly in Dublin? Does the Minister of State agree the position is as serious as that which obtained during the tuberculosis crisis in another era? Is he aware that there are thousands of heroin addicts in the greater Dublin area who desperately want to give up heroin but there are no vacancies on programmes? Is he aware that there are thousands of parents in terrible distress because they cannot find places for their addicted children? While considering the broader issues, will the Minister of State and his colleagues take immediate action to appoint more councillors, outreach workers and liaison personnel between health boards and the community so that the Eastern Health Board's target of eliminating waiting lists by the end of this year can become a reality? Will the Minister of State make a concrete statement in response to those matters?
The Government is aware of the serious position regarding heroin abuse. For that reason it is developing the strategies put in place by the previous Government to tackle the root causes. There are waiting lists, the matter is critical and the Eastern Health Board has given a specific commitment which I expect to be honoured. Local drugs task forces have been effective in ensuring that, in so far as possible, treatment, including councillors, doctors, chemists and so on, is made available within their areas.
While I welcome the Minister's statement that he is developing the policy established by the last Government — I was a member of the ministerial task force — how many of the local task forces have made proposals about tackling the drug problem in their respective areas? There are nine task forces in Dublin and one in Cork. The task force in Clondalkin will be of interest to the Minister and the one in Blanchardstown is of interest to me. How many of them have submitted proposals to the Government and how many of the proposals has the Government accepted?
There are 13 task forces, 12 in Dublin and one in Cork. Eleven interim approvals have been made, two are outstanding. There has been no delay on the part of the Government or the committee in evaluating reports of local task forces. Two were approved at a Government meeting yesterday, one for Finglas-Cabra and another for Finglas. When the reports are received from local task forces for evaluation and approval there is no delay on the part of my team.
Has the £20 million fund for the development of youth services agreed by the previous Government for supporting the proposals in the second report of the ministerial task force been agreed by the Government? It was intended that that fund would be leveraged against similar funding from the corporate sector. Has progress been made in that regard? Has anybody asked the corporate sector about their contribution? It was also intended the fund would include moneys equivalent to those seized from the drug barons by the Criminal Assets Bureau. I understand it is not feasible to allocate moneys directly seized from them. Does the £20 million fund exist, are moneys being leveraged against the corporate sector and does the commitment of the previous Government to allocate moneys from the Criminal Assets Bureau towards this fund still stand? Will the Minister of State confirm that the commitment of the Eastern Health Board, as the health board responsible in the worst region, to abolish the waiting lists by the end of this year will be honoured? Who will convene the Cabinet sub-committee responsible for overall direction of policy?
I understand the Taoiseach, as chairperson of the Cabinet sub-committee, will convene it. As acting chairperson of that committee, I will outline the effects of the work I am doing in the area of local development and the national drugs strategy. I understand the policy regarding the assets of the Criminal Assets Bureau will continue, but I have been informed the figure will not be large. I cannot give a reason for that at this stage. It was the intention that the youth services development fund of £20 million promised by the previous Government would become effective from 1 January l998. That will form part of the discussions which are taking place between officials of my Department and the Minister for Finance. I am holding discussions with the Eastern Health Board to ensure its commitment regarding waiting lists is met.
I am not clear whether the decisions taken by the previous Government stand. Does the Minister acknowledge that the establishment of the local drugs task forces has been the most effective measure taken in the 20 years that the drugs menace has scourged some of our community and that the measures agreed by those task forces cannot be effective without proper resources? Does he agree, therefore, the commitments of the previous Government and new commitments by this Government are necessary if those task forces and the national drugs strategy team are to effectively combat the scourge of drug abuse and, in particular, reduce the demand for drugs?
The local drugs task forces have been an effective mechanism because they have been resourced and their operations involve a great deal of commitment from statutory agencies and the local community which, as the Deputy will know from his experience in his constituency, has made a significant contribution to the effectiveness of those task forces. It is my intention that funding for the local drugs task forces and the national drugs strategy team will continue. In so far as the youth development services fund is concerned, we are holding discussions with the Minister for Finance with a view to finalising the matter before budget day.
(Dublin West): Will the Minister of State indicate the precise number of heroin addicts awaiting a place on a programme in the Eastern Health Board region? As the end of the year is only ten weeks away, will he ensure steps are taken to provide every heroin addict who wants to give up that awful addiction with a place in a recovery and aftercare programme by that time or, if not by then, give a date by which they will have a place on such a programme?
The Deputy is looking for specific figures. As I did not have notice of his request, I will arrange to provide him with the information on drug addiction, particularly heroin addition, in so far as it is available. The waiting list for programmes in the Eastern Health Board involves the work of the Eastern Health Board in conjunction with the local drugs task force. I am not in a position to state when the Eastern Health Board will meet a specific target. Our objective is that one will be reached by the end of the year. I will arrange to obtain and forward to the Deputy the information from the health board on the two issues he raised.
