Joe Sherlock
Ceist:112 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress made to date in implementing the new national drugs strategy launched in May 2001. [24072/03]
Written Answers. - National Drugs Strategy.
Jimmy Deenihan
Ceist:132 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if there are plans to integrate the national alcohol strategy into the national drugs strategy; and his Department's views on such a measure. [24159/03]
Willie Penrose
Ceist:139 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will make a statement on the work to date of the interdepartmental group on drugs which he chairs. [24066/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 112, 132 and 139 together.
As the Deputies are aware, my Department has overall responsibility for co-ordinating the implementation of the national drugs strategy 2001-2008. The strategy contains 100 individual actions under the four pillars of supply reduction, prevention, treatment and research, which will be implemented by a range of Departments and agencies. Since it was launched in May 2001, considerable progress has been made in implementing the actions set out in the strategy. In this context the interdepartmental group, IDG, which I chair, receives regular reports from the relevant Departments and agencies on progress, as well as reports on the work of the national drugs strategy team, the young people's facilities and services fund and the national advisory committee on drugs. In addition, the group debates policy issues relevant to the strategy and has invited speakers to make presentations on various drugs related topics, such as homelessness.
Six monthly progress reports on the strategy are provided for the Cabinet committee on social inclusion, the most recent of which was submitted to the October meeting of the committee. It is intended to submit a further progress report on the strategy to the committee early in 2004. In terms of progress to date, it should be noted that the number of methadone treatment places has increased significantly in recent years. The number of places at the end of June 2003, the latest date for which confirmed figures are available, was 6,704. The equivalent figure at the end of 2000 was 5,032. The first phase of a national awareness campaign was launched last May. The campaign featured television and radio advertising supported by an information brochure and website, all designed to promote greater awareness and communication about the drugs issue in Ireland. The second phase, which is due to be rolled out in the coming months, will specifically target parents.
The majority of the regional drugs task forces are now up and running and meeting regularly. They are currently working on mapping out the patterns of drug misuse in their areas as well as the range of existing services with a view to addressing gaps in service provision. A coastal watch programme has been launched and a number of measures to enhance drugs detection capability at points of entry are being implemented. Guidelines to assist schools in the development of a drugs policy have been developed and were issued to all primary and post-primary schools in May 2002. Extra support staff have been recruited to enable the delivery of substance misuse prevention programme in all schools from the start of this academic year. More than 1,120 recovering drug misusers are now participating in the special FÁS community employment programme. The strategy also provides for an independent evaluation of the effectiveness of the overall framework by the end of 2004. This will examine the progress being made in achieving its overall key strategic goals and will enable priorities for further action to be identified and a refocusing of the strategy, if necessary.
My Department also has responsibility for the work of the local drug task forces which were established in 1997 in the areas experiencing the worst levels of drug misuse. Mores than €14.5 million has been allocated to the task forces to implement their second round of action plans. A further €11.5 million has been allocated to capital projects under the premises initiative which is designed to meet the accommodation needs of community based drugs projects. In addition, more than €59 million has been allocated under the young people's 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.
As regards the national alcohol policy, the Deputies will be aware that this is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, who is pursuing a number of initiatives in this area. The national drugs strategy calls for increased links between both policies in terms of cross-representation on the relevant committees and working groups to ensure complementarity between the different measures being taken and this is being done. I am not aware of any plans at present to merge these two areas which may be partly due to the different policy responses required for legal and illegal substances. As regards the task forces, they were set up to address the issue of illicit drug use in their areas and I do not consider it appropriate at this stage to dilute the focus of their work.