Vol. 572 No. 6
133 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when it is intended to establish the early warning system, involving all key agencies, to track the potential spread of heroin into new areas in regard to the commitment given in An Agreed Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24065/03]
As the Deputy is aware, the role of my Department is to co-ordinate the implementation of the national drugs strategy 2001-2008. Arising from discussions which my Department held with a range of Departments and agencies involved in tackling drugs, it was agreed that the early warning sub-committee of the national advisory committee on drugs, NACD, will fulfil the role outlined in the programme for Government. As a first step, the issue of heroin use will be examined. In this context, the sub-committee will draw on the recent NACD capture-recapture study of the prevalence of opiate use, the upcoming general population study, the statistics available to the Health Research Board concerning demand for treatment nationally and Garda seizures. The NACD will present a report based on this information to the interdepartmental group on drugs, which I chair, and I will then bring the report to the attention of the Cabinet committee on social inclusion. Due to the timing of the preparation of the relevant statistics, it is unlikely that it will be possible to compile this report until early 2004.
