Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 11 Feb 1999

Vol. 500 No. 3

Written Answers. - Drug Treatment Services.

Noel Ahern

Ceist:

113 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Education and Science 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. [3963/99]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

The guidance and counselling services funded by my Department are confined to the support of students engaged in full-time study in schools and colleges, and as such generally excludes those in employment. In addition, a sum of £728,000 is being provided in 1999 for a joint guidance, counselling and psychological service for early school leavers in youthreach and traveller programmes and in FÁS funded community training workshops. The measure is implemented locally by the vocational education committees, FÁS and the training centres concerned. Young people with drug problems are included among the groups catered for on the programmes.

Part-time options will be developed on these programmes during 1999. In addition, vocational education committees, schools and youth services are also involved in a range of specific projects with area based partnerships under the operational programme for local urban and rural development. The initiatives involved may include counselling services. The programme is co-ordinated and administered by area development management limited and funded by the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation. A number of projects promoters in local drug task force areas are also in receipt of funding under the Governments £10 million drugs initiative in respect of drug education and prevention programmes.