Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 30 Jan 2002

Vol. 547 No. 1

Written Answers. - National Drugs Strategy.

Seán Haughey

Ceist:

1041 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the measures he has taken since 1997 to prevent drug abuse; the role of the drug task forces and the new drugs strategy in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1346/02]

Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation (Mr. E. Ryan)

Since 1997, my Department has been involved in a range of measures to tackle drug misuse. The Deputy will be aware that local drugs task forces – LDTFs – were established in 1997 in the areas experiencing the highest levels of problem drug use. They comprise a partnership between the statutory, voluntary and community sectors and, together, they draft and implement local area action plans which incorporate a range of measures in relation to treatment, rehabilitation, education, prevention, and curbing local supply. There are 12 task forces in the Dublin area, one in Cork and one in Bray, which was designated as a LDTF area in 2000. The LDTFs are now starting to implement their second round of action plans for which over 11 million has been allocated by the Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion since the beginning of 2001. In addition, over 120 projects from the first round plans have been mainstreamed through the relevant Departments and agencies, thereby ensuring their continued funding.

The National Drugs Strategy, 2001-2008, which was launched in May 2001, is the first time that all elements of drugs policy in Ireland have been brought together in a single framework. The strategy clearly assigns responsibility to the different Departments and agencies involved in drugs policy under the four pillars of supply reduction, prevention, treatment and research. Under the strategy, a series of 100 actions have been developed which are designed to drive the strategy forward.

The strategy recommends the setting up of regional drugs task forces. These will be set up in every health board area and will bring together the relevant statutory, voluntary and community sectors. Once established, they will be responsible for putting in place a strategy to tackle drug misuse specifically for their regions. The national drugs strategy team participated in a series of seminars last September to assist in this process and work is under way in the regions to progress their establishment.

The National Advisory Committee on Drugs was established in 2000, under the auspices of my Department, to advise the Government in relation to the prevalence, prevention, treatment and consequences of drug misuse. The committee is currently overseeing a three year prioritised programme of research and evaluation of the extent, nature, causes and effects of drug misuse in Ireland. Its first report, Drug Use Prevention: An Overview of Research, was published in early December 2001. The committee will be publishing other pieces of research on drug-related issues during the course of 2002.

My Department also chairs the national assessment committee for the young peoples facilities and services fund – YPFSF. The fund was established in 1998 to assist in the development of preventative strategies and initiatives in a targeted manner through the development of youth facilities, including sport and recreational facilities, and services in disadvantaged areas where a significant drug problem exists or has the potential to develop. The object of the fund is to attract at risk young people in disadvantaged areas into these facilities and activities and divert them away from the dangers of substance abuse. The target group for the fund is 10-21 year olds who are marginalised through a combination of risk factors relating to family background, environmental circumstances, educational disadvantage, and involvement in crime and-or drugs. To date, approx 59 million has been allocated under the fund to a range of facility and services projects in the local drugs task force areas and designated urban areas.