Vol. 500 No. 3
86 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children the funds under his Department or any agency under his control made available for private counselling and training courses, for example, fork lift truck courses for reformed drug addicts back in employment but seeking occasional counselling and career help. [3962/99]
The provision of drug counselling and rehabilitation services is a matter for health boards in the first instance. The Eastern Health Board supports by way of grant aid the aftercare-rehabilitation carried out at the SAOL project in Amiens Street, Clondalkin addiction support project, Kilbarrack, the Rutland centre, Coolmine, High Park, Drumcondra, Ballymun youth action project and at Cuan Mhuire in Athy. The board has informed me that it is not involved in the forklift truck course for reformed drug addicts to which the Deputy refers. I am aware, however, that under the local drugs task force initiatives, which are the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister of State, Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation, Deputy Flood, a sum of £40,000 has been approved by Government and allocated on foot of a proposal by the Ballymun drugs task force to employ a special employment officer who will assist in moving stabilised drug misusers from rehabilitation towards training and employment.
