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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 30 Sep 2003

Vol. 571 No. 1

Written Answers. - Drugs Strategy.

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

1335 Mr. O'Dowd asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress to date on the national drugs strategy; and the changes he proposes to make to this strategy. [20686/03]

My Department has overall responsibility for co-ordinating the implementation of the National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008. It contains 100 actions, under the four pillars of supply reduction, prevention, treatment and research, to be implemented by a range of Departments and agencies.

Six monthly progress reports on it are provided to the Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion. I will present the most recent of report at the next meeting of the Cabinet committee tomorrow. It is intended to submit a further progress report to the committee early next year. Significant progress is being made in implementing the 100 actions contained in the strategy. The Deputy should note the following: the number of methadone treatment places has increased significantly since the launch of the strategy. The number of places at the end of June, the latest date for which confirmed figures are available, was 6,704 exceeding the target of 6,500 set in the strategy. The equivalent figure at the end of 2000 was 5,032; most of the regional drugs task forces are up and running and meeting regularly. At present they are working on mapping out the patterns of drug misuse in the area as well as identifying services already available in the area with a view to co-ordinating these existing services and addressing gaps in service provision; on 15 May the Department of Health and Children launched the first phase of a national awareness campaign. It featured television and radio advertising supported by an information brochure and website. All these are designed to promote greater awareness and communication about the drugs issue in Ireland. The first phase targeted the general population whereas subsequent phases will focus on specific groups such as parents and young people. The second phase is due to be rolled out mid-October and will be specifically targeted at parents; Revenue has launched a coastal watch programme and has implemented a number of measures to enhance drugs detection capability at points of entry; guidelines to assist schools in the development of a drugs policy have also been developed and were issued to all primary and post-primary schools in May 2002; the Department of Education and Science is now represented on all local drugs task forces and have recruited extra support staff to enable the delivery of substance misuse prevention programmes in all schools from the start of this academic year; and over 1,120 recovering drug misusers are now on special FÁS community employment.
My Department also has responsibility for the work of 14 LDTFs. They were established in 1997 in the areas experiencing the worst levels of drug misuse.
The Government has allocated or spent over €65 million to implement approximately 500 projects contained in both sets of plans of the task forces since 1997. In addition, over €11.6 million has been allocated to capital projects under the premises initiative, which is designed to meet the accommodation needs of community based drugs projects.
Over €59 million has been allocated to support approximately 350 facility and services projects in LDTF areas and the four other urban centres under the young peoples facilities and services fund. The main aim of the fund is to attract at risk young people in disadvantaged areas into recreational facilities and activities and divert them away from the dangers of substance abuse.
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