Vol. 638 No. 2
1 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress made to date on reducing the hardship caused to individuals and society by drug misuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21019/07]
I thank Deputy Ring for tabling this priority question and I take the opportunity to congratulate him on his appointment. I look forward to working with him. I also congratulate Deputy Wall and look forward to working with him also for whatever period we are together.
The National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008 has achieved considerable success across a range of areas in reducing the hardship caused to individuals and society by problem drug use. Under the strategy, the Government continues to address problem drug use in a co-ordinated way through the original four pillars of supply reduction, prevention, treatment and research. These have been augmented, following the mid-term review of the strategy in 2005, by the fifth pillar regarding rehabilitation.
The levels of drugs seizures by the Garda and the Customs and Excise have been well in excess of the targets set out in the strategy and they include a number of significant operations. Under the prevention pillar, the SPHE and Walk Tall programmes have been rolled out to all schools. Awareness campaigns have been organised and tremendous achievements have been made under the young people's facilities and services fund. Treatment facilities have increased significantly, with approximately 8,500 in receipt of methadone in July, and a range of services are being provided across the statutory, voluntary and community sectors for various types of problem drug use. Research in areas such as drugs prevalence, the outcome of heroin treatment, families and drugs, the effect of drugs on communities and cocaine issues have all helped to inform our progress.
The specific achievements of my Department under the strategy include the programmes developed by local and regional drugs task forces, capital projects developed under the premises initiative fund and preventive actions undertaken through the young people's facilities and services fund. The 14 local drugs task forces are well established, having been in operation for nearly ten years. At this stage, more than 440 community-based projects are being supported, employing more than 300 people and delivering a wide range of services and supports for problem drug users, their families and their broader communities. Furthermore, through the emerging needs fund, approximately €4 million was allocated to 67 projects last year to ensure that the drugs problem was being combated on the ground in the most timely and flexible way.
Additional information not given on the floor of the House.
An evaluation of approximately 270 interim funded LDTF projects is under way and it is expected to be completed later this year. The outcome of this evaluation will help to inform the way forward for any development and strengthening of projects at LDTF level.
Ten regional drugs task forces, RDTFs, were also established in 2003, thus ensuring that all parts of the country now benefit from the operation of a drugs task force. Following extensive consultation processes, all regions prepared strategic plans which are now being rolled out in the different areas. The RDTFs will be pressing ahead towards full implementation of their plans in the coming year or two at a full cost of approximately €14 million.
On capital funding, a premises initiative fund is now open to applications from all drug task forces to address the accommodation needs of community-based drugs projects. It is envisaged that RDTFs will come forward with an increased range of proposals under this fund in the coming period.
The young people's facilities and services fund was established to assist in 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 main aim 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 of the programme is young people in the age range of ten to 21 years who are defined as "at risk" due to factors such as family circumstances, educational disadvantage, or involvement in crime or substance misuse.
Earlier this week, I was pleased to announce additional capital allocations of nearly €7 million to support 42 projects under the fund. To date, allocations of more than €125 million have been made to almost 500 facility and services projects in LDTF areas in Dublin, Bray and Cork, as well as in Galway, Limerick and Waterford cities and Carlow town.
The Government is committed to maximising the successful outcomes of the current national drugs strategy. The allocation of €50 million this year in my Department's Vote clearly illustrates this point. This amount represents an increase of 16% on the 2006 figure and is 87% higher than the corresponding figure for 2004. In all, more than €200 million was spent on various drugs programmes across Departments and Government agencies last year. Indeed, this figure is exclusive of the many mainstream services that are availed of, in the normal way, by those affected by problem drug use.
Meanwhile, we continue to adapt our approach to drugs issues in a flexible manner to address evolving situations. In that regard, I am overseeing the implementation of the recommendations of the report of the national advisory committee on drugs entitled An Overview of Cocaine Use in Ireland, largely through the interdepartmental group on drugs, which I chair. In this context, significant efforts are being made at both statutory and community level to tackle that problem.
Looking forward, the programme for Government contains commitments in regard to the implementation of the recommendations of the working group on drug rehabilitation, developing and strengthening the range of drug task force projects, continuing and extending the young people's facilities and services fund and providing cocaine specific facilities. I can assure the Deputy that I will be working to ensure that these commitments are fulfilled.
I will shortly be initiating the process that will lead to the formulation of a new national drugs strategy for the period after 2008. While the challenges ahead are clearly significant, I am confident that we can build on our experiences and achievements to date in meeting them.
While I am not going to cause a row on my first Question Time——
I am glad to hear that.
——I wish to put down a marker. I tabled two priority questions both of which were ruled out of order, which I feel is unfair. A procedure should be in place. I was lucky that I had tabled other questions. As far as I was concerned the questions were in order. They were direct questions to the Minister. While I am disappointed I will not cause a row on it today.
I would like to explain to the Deputy. First, I will give him injury time on this so that it will not impact on his time. I understand that the questions were not disallowed, but rather transferred to a different Minister.
Correct.
The Chair has no control over the Minister to whom responsibility is allocated by the Government.
I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. As today is the first Question Time for the Minister of State, Deputy Pat Carey, I wish him the best of luck. I congratulate him on his appointment and look forward to working with him. He has arranged for a briefing for us by his Department, which I welcome. The Minister, Deputy Ó Cuív, has agreed to do the same.
The Minister of State probably has the most important job in the country at present. We have a very serious drug problem. We are spending considerable resources without seeming to have the result. With regard to the money spent by the Department trying to address the drug problem, what targets have been set and how many of them have been met? A number of people have already contacted me who wished to get their sons or daughters on detoxification programmes. I am advised that only 25 beds are available, all of which are in Dublin. No places are available for people outside Dublin. If people reach the stage of being ready for detoxification it is not appropriate that they must wait 15 or 16 weeks for a bed. What will the Minister of State and the Department do to address this issue?
Considering the money that is spent how does the Department measure success and how is it measured internationally? Is the Department reaching the targets set in its programme? This is the most important problem facing society at present. Later I have a further question about drugs coming into the country.
I agree this task is one of the most challenging there is. Having spent the past three months meeting local drugs task forces and some regional drugs task forces, I am very impressed by the range of work being carried out at local level by the community and voluntary sector and by the statutory sector. In regard to the amount spent, I can provide the Deputy with a detailed breakdown. In 2006, in excess of €200 million was spent across a range of Departments and agencies, including the drugs strategy unit, the Department of Health and Children, the HSE, FÁS, the Department of Education and Science, the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Prison Service, the Garda Síochána and Customs and Excise. In addition, there was considerable further expenditure on schemes that have been mainstreamed since the drugs strategy was put in place over the past ten years, ranging across a number of Departments and agencies, including the Departments of Education and Science, and Health and Children, FÁS and others.
In regard to targets, the National Advisory Committee on Drugs is constantly reviewing the targets and benchmarking against previous studies. The mid-term review of the national drugs strategy is almost complete. All the projects have been evaluated. We are close to identifying those that will be in a position to be mainstreamed and they will be re-examined. The actions in the national drugs strategy, of which there are more than 100, are being reviewed. In the Rehab Group annual report, which was published at the height of the general election when few of us had time to read it, there is a proposal to increase the number of treatment detox beds, some of which will be in a hospital setting. I have been examining how the community and voluntary sector, under strict clinical governance, could increase the number of detox beds in that area. I am discussing that with some of the providers. One measure of success is the ROSIE study. It is a very detailed piece of research which is mirrored across other European and OECD countries and tells us how we are doing. We are doing reasonably well but complacency is not something we can afford.
Are there any plans for a national advertising campaign on the abuse of drugs which would be made available in schools? There are campaigns on drink driving. It is time for one on drugs. This is the biggest single problem we face and does not only affect deprived areas. It is in middle class and wealthy communities where people use their credit cards to snort the drug. It is time there were raids on the upper classes as well as targeting disadvantaged areas. I hope we will see real efforts by the Government to show people the effects of drug abuse on people and communities.
Advertising is part of the national drugs strategy. We have a number of pilot projects, in particular, one in the Blanchardstown area where there is a freefone service, a texting service and a postal service. The national drugs strategy intends rolling that out over a wider area. I am also examining other ways of targeting young people using new web-based and text-based technologies. I have had some discussions with some of the groups that specialise in that area and hope to bring proposals to Government fairly soon.
In regard to schools, the SPHE programme is taught through junior cycle. I met the SPHE co-ordinators in July.
2 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the recent report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, which suggested that cocaine use is increasing at a higher rate in Ireland than in any other developed country; the steps he will take to reduce cocaine use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21165/07]
I am aware of the recent report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, which suggested that Ireland is experiencing a higher rate of increase in cocaine use than other developed countries. I must stress, however, that it is the rate of increase that was being assessed in the report, not the actual level of cocaine usage. Furthermore, it should be borne in mind that our rate of increase is coming from a very low base and, within developed countries, we are considered a mid-ranking country in terms of cocaine usage. Major European countries such as Great Britain and Spain are continuing to experience higher rates of usage.
The report uses indirect indicators such as numbers presenting for treatment, arrest numbers and levels of seizures to measure cocaine usage. However, it is only when the second national drug prevalence survey is completed, the first reports from which are expected later this year, that we will have an up-to-date picture of the prevalence of cocaine use in our society. It is worth noting that the main author of the report, Mr. Thomas Pietschmann, attributed the result in part to "honest reporting" by the Irish Government. He further commented that it is normal for countries that are performing well economically to be targeted for cocaine sales.
The National Advisory Committee on Drugs and the national drugs strategy team prepared a joint briefing paper on cocaine based on existing data in Ireland. The paper, An Overview of Cocaine Use in Ireland, which was published earlier this year, concluded that data sources indicated an upward trend in cocaine use, again albeit from a low base. The paper also highlighted the extremely high risks associated with cocaine and the physical and mental health problems that arise from its use.
Cocaine is particularly dangerous when combined with alcohol and other substances and these messages on the real dangers associated with its use need to be highlighted. The social and economic harm also needs to be stressed, not only to the users of cocaine, but also to their families and to communities that bear the brunt of the behaviour and criminal activity associated with the supply and use of cocaine. I have repeatedly stressed the dangers associated with so-called recreational or weekend cocaine use and the glamorising of cocaine in some quarters.
Additional information not given on the floor of the House.
A number of recommendations are made in the paper, principally in regard to treatment, but also covering supply, prevention and research. A key conclusion of the report is that treatment, primarily in the form of counselling, can and does work and, in this context, the provision of cocaine-specific clinics in a small number of areas where cocaine problems are more acute is being pursued. However, in the broader context, I am of the view that we should work towards having drug services that can cater for individual problem drug users, regardless of the drugs they use and this is also being addressed.
Another key recommendation relates to the training of frontline personnel to deal with cocaine issues. In this regard, a training initiative has already been funded by my Department, as well as four pilot cocaine treatment projects to examine different methods of treatment for cocaine use. Meanwhile, the HSE has initiated the roll-out of further training for both its own staff and those in the community and voluntary sectors who are dealing with the issue.
Under the emerging needs fund, six cocaine specific projects in local drugs task force areas have been funded and support for a further nine projects aimed at polydrug-cocaine use has also been provided under that fund. My Department also sponsored a highly successful conference in June last organised by the SAOL project and the NDST on the response to cocaine through shared good practice. A very useful resource pack for workers in the field was launched at that event. Progress on the implementation of the recommendations of the briefing paper is being closely monitored by the interdepartmental group on drugs, which I chair. In addition, the HSE is addressing the issue in a determined way and the NDST, along with the drug task forces, will continue to review the needs in communities.
The challenges posed by cocaine use are significant, but I am confident that we can meet these challenges through a co-ordinated approach utilising the structures of the national drugs strategy.
I thank the Minister of State for his offer of a briefing and also the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Ó Cuív, for his note and his offer of a briefing.
The United Nations report is negative. It states that Ireland ranks fifth highest in terms of the increase in cocaine use and is the only developed nation that has experienced a large increase in use. If one examines the records, everything has increased tenfold since 1999. The number of cocaine-related offences recorded by the Garda Síochána has increased fourfold from 297 to 1,224. Cocaine seizures have increased from 17 kg in 2002 to 270 kg in 2006. Everything is going in the opposite direction to what we want.
We should not accept that it is normal for cocaine use to increase if we are doing well. What alternatives are we providing to weekend use of cocaine? According to the report, 2 kg of cocaine per day is consumed in the greater Dublin area. What is being done to break that momentum? The figures in this report indicate we are not doing anything and that we are allowing use of cocaine to increase to epidemic proportions. It is imperative that we put down markers to try to break that momentum. Otherwise we will experience again what we experienced in the early 1990s with heroin.
The use of cocaine is worrying. There is no point in pretending otherwise. It is now a phenomenon across all social classes. That was highlighted in the Rehab Group report and in the report on cocaine which was published earlier this year. There are measures and pilot projects, including four cocaine-specific initiatives. There is one in Blanchardstown and another in the south inner city. I do not recall where the others are at the moment. I will come back to the Deputy on that issue. These projects are being used to develop best practice in the area of treatment for cocaine use.
In the wider area of treatment, there are very good community-based interventions in terms of holistic therapies, cognitive behaviour therapies, acupuncture and so on, which are proving quite successful. That, however, will not be enough. We need to have further interventions. Ireland ranks fifth highest in terms of the increase in cocaine use. It remains considerably behind the United Kingdom and Spain, which is no great consolation. The track of cocaine coming from South America has changed. The current route to mainland Europe is through Colombia, west Africa and Mediterranean countries. The Garda Síochána seized 18 kilogrammes of cocaine in 2002. Some 190,000 kilogrammes with a street value of €13 million were seized in 2006. That is an enormous increase and very worrying.
The level of funding provided in this area is not sufficient. The president of EURAD stated the Government had concentrated resources in methadone clinics and failed to address the drugs problem holistically. We are not doing enough, in terms of advertising, to show the downside of drugs. It is fashionable to take cocaine. We must tackle this problem by providing an alternative. How does the Minister of State propose to do this? I admit the task is a difficult one but we will play our part in supporting the Minister of State in his efforts to address it. He has stated three projects have been initiated in certain parts of Dublin to try to address this problem. He might as well be sweeping the streets in those areas because this will not have any affect nationally. These three projects will not break the momentum of the drug barons of Ireland.
The three projects to which I referred are very specific. Local drugs task forces, the HSE and others provide for a wide range of interventions. We are developing best practice. While there is no alternative to cocaine in terms of medication, there are interventions in terms of therapies and so on. It is not true to say nothing is being done. An important intervention which has been approved by the Cabinet is the Lisbon centre. Ireland will be one of seven European countries which will collect data intelligence on cocaine trafficking and devise intelligence-led measures to counter the epidemic.
3 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the position in relation to the rural transport initiative for night time rural buses; if he will expand this service to more areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21021/07]
I congratulate the various spokespersons on their appointments. I look forward to working with them and Question Time being a useful way of debating on the floor of the House issues of major national importance.
As Deputy Ring is aware, there are no public transport services in many rural areas at night. While such services are available in the more developed rural areas, by either hackney or taxi services, these are at the discretion of the providers and do not provide a guaranteed service for rural people. It was against this background, therefore, that earlier this year I introduced a new evening transport service on a pilot basis to allow rural people to fully participate in community, sports and social activities taking place in their areas. The new scheme also aims to address the current market failure in this area.
The 34 groups delivering the rural transport programme operated by the Department of Transport were invited by Pobal to submit applications for consideration under the new scheme. Following the appraisal of the proposals submitted, seven groups were selected to run the pilot scheme, namely, West Cork Rural Transport, Avondhu Development Group in east Cork, Meath Accessible-Kilnaleck Community Cavan, County Sligo Leader Partnership, Tumna Shannon Development Company Roscommon, Síob Teoranta Donegal and, Laois Trip. The projects were selected having regard to such criteria as evidence of need, strength of proposal, capacity of the group, value for money and geographical spread.
The budget for the pilot scheme is €500,000. The first service commenced in June and service and passenger numbers are expected to increase throughout the autumn. Although only in the early stages, I understand the services are being very well received by communities and passengers alike. Early indications are that older people, people with a disability and young people are particularly enthusiastic about the new services and new activities are being planned around their availability.
All services focus on maximising the general community good. I am conscious of the need to ensure no displacement takes place of commercially viable existing services as a result of the introduction of the new scheme. My intention is that the pilot scheme will be reviewed after a year and decisions in relation to its future will be informed by the outcome of the evaluation.
The Minister has said there is no night time service in many rural areas. There is, in fact, no day service in many rural areas. I welcome this initiative. The Government gave an election commitment that this issue would receive priority if it was returned to office.
The Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs is engaged in discussions with the HSE. We have a serious problem in that there is no public transport service in many parts of rural Ireland. The Government is focused on bringing services to the regions. However, many people, some in receipt of social welfare payments of only €189 or €200 per week, are unable to attend hospital appointments because of a lack of transport. They are given appointments in hospitals in Galway and north Mayo, some 140 miles away. They would be required to spend their total social welfare payment on a taxi to attend these appointments.
I have a meeting tomorrow with representatives of the HSE from which I received a letter last week stating it was engaged in discussions on the issue with the Minister and his Department. Perhaps he will outline for us what is happening. Can he assure the people concerned that he will put in place transport services to bring them to hospital appointments? A case is before the Ombudsman of a woman in serious ill-health who has not taken up a hospital appointment in a full year.
Unfortunately, progress has been slow. I was a little taken aback when the HSE stated my Department and I were engaged in discussions with it. I have discussed the matter with a senior executive of the HSE and a local transport group in an effort to identify how best we can bring together, in a co-ordinated fashion, the critical mass of the rural transport initiative and the requirement to bring people to hospital. If this can be done, we will get better value for money.
I have tried to pursue the issue with the HSE which has an allocation to provide this type of ambulance service. We could provide a much more extensive service if this was linked to a joint bidding system through the rural transport initiative. We are involved in a cohesive process, including Leader and partnership companies. This is about providing cohesive, comprehensive services; it is not about structures, but about people. We must examine their needs, including for patient transport which is vital.
I concur with the Deputy's remarks on this issue. I was appalled to learn that people from Inishturk and Clare Island who do not have cars on the mainland were being told once they arrived on the mainland that they had to walk or take a taxi to hospital. While I am working on the issue, progress has been slow. I appreciate the Deputy's support for my efforts. I would be interested to hear his view on whether this is the best way to approach the matter.
I am glad to hear the Minister's response. I know he is committed to rural Ireland. I do not mind who provides the service. I will have a meeting with officials from the HSE tomorrow. Some believe it is important to have vehicles equipped with the best of mobile phones and seats to transport them around the country, while others awaiting major heart surgery, some in receipt of social welfare payments of €189 or €200 per week, do not have transport to take them to hospital. I do not mind whether the service is provided under the rural transport scheme or by the HSE. If the HSE cannot do it, I will support the Minister and his Department in their efforts to provide a service. The HSE should not remove the existing service until a new one is in place. I am asking that the Minister discuss the matter with the HSE to ensure patients will obtain transport to take up hospital appointments.
My sentiments exactly. The HSE cut the service to the limit, leaving many in my constituency and others without a service. I approached the HSE about this matter a considerable time ago and the officials said they were sticking to their statement that they could only provide a limited service. I pointed out that I am always amazed that the HSE can make cutbacks but the amount saved is only a drop in the ocean compared to its total budget. I asked them to consider, as an alternative way of approaching this issue, giving the money to the existing providers so that money is not wasted on bureaucracy. In other words, another bureaucracy should not be set up. We have an existing structure and, therefore, no money should be expended on bureaucracy. I asked them to consider providing a lump sum in return for services and allow the providers to tender out the services as part of their own. The officials said they would consider it but they have not returned with proposals. I am pursuing the issue and the Deputy can rest assured that I will try to progress this in the way we have discussed.
4 D’fhiafraigh Deputy Dinny McGinley den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta an bhfuil sé sásta leis an dul chun cinn atá déanta go dtí seo maidir le baill d’Fhoras na Gaeilge a dhílárú go Gaoth Dobhair agus cén uair a shíleann sé go mbeidh an polasaí curtha i gcrích. [21168/07]
Mar a thug mé le fios mar fhreagra ar cheisteanna sa Teach seo cheana, d'iarr mé ar bhord Fhoras na Gaeilge moltaí sonracha a dhéanamh maidir leis na céimeanna a bheadh i gceist chun poist a lonnú i nGaoth Dobhair, chomh maith leis na rannóga agus na feidhmeanna a bheadh lonnaithe ann. Ina dhiaidh sin, tíolacadh aighneacht do mo Roinn féin agus an Roinn Cultúir, Ealaíon agus Fóillíochta sa Tuaisceart maidir le postanna a líonadh i réimsí éagsúla san eagraíocht. Leasaíodh an aighneacht mar thoradh ar chomhráití idir an foras agus an dá Roinn agus tá an aighneacht leasaithe sin, ina bhfuil poist ar leith luaite le Gaoth Dobhair, á bhreithniú faoi láthair. Tá súil agam go bpléifear an cheist seo, agus go n-aontófar cur chuige chun an breithniú a thabhairt chun críche taobh istigh d'amscála aontaithe, ag cruinniú den Chomhairle Aireachta Thuaidh-Theas atá le bheith ann go luath. Ní miste a lua freisin go bhfuil comhráití ar bun ag mo Roinn le hÚdarás na Gaeltachta maidir le cóiríocht chuí a aimsiú i bpáirc ghnó Ghaoth Dobhair a d'fhéadfadh a bheith fóirsteanach do riachtanais an fhorais chomh maith. Mar fhocal scoir, ní miste dom a shoiléiriú gur dílárú postanna foirne de chuid Fhoras na Gaeilge atá i gceist agus ní dílárú baill an fhorais.
Tuigim an pointe a rinne an Aire maidir le baill an fhorais, in ionad an foras fhéin — phléamar an cheist sin cheana sa Teach seo. Ní aontaím go hiomlán go bhfuil an dearcadh sin i gcomhréir leis an ráiteas a rinneadh sa Dáil beagnach ceithre bliana ó shin. I mí na Nollag, sílim go mbeidh ceithre bliana imithe ón lá nuair a dearbhaigh an iar-Aire go mbeadh Foras na Gaeilge — nó baill d'Fhoras na Gaeilge — ag dul go Gaoth Dobhair. Dúirt an Aire go bhfuil comhráite i ndiadh comhráite ag dul ar aghaidh idir é féin agus Foras na Gaeilge, an Aire sa Tuaisceart agus go leor daoine eile. Tá an Teach seo tar éis déileáil le ráitis i ndiadh ráitis agus ceisteanna i ndiadh ceisteanna. Is é bun an scéal, agus muid ag caint anseo, ná nach bhfuil oiread agus duine amháin díláraithe go dtí nGaoth Dobhair, cé go raibh siad le bheith ann bliain ó shin — dúradh linn go ndéanfar an dílárnú lastigh de trí bliana.
Tá súil agam go bhfuil ceist ag teacht.
Cén dul chun cinn atá déanta chun cóiríocht a chuir ar fáil? Tuigim ó Údarás na Gaeltachta nach mbeidh aon deacracht le sin. An raibh aon comhráite go fóill idir an t-Aire agus an t-Aire Airgeadais maidir le daoine breise a earcú sa dóigh go mbeidh toradh éigin le feiceáil i nGaoth Dobhair taobh istigh de achar gairid?
Is í sin an rud deiridh a chuirfidh moill ar seo. Tá 44 duine fostaithe i bhForas na Gaeilge faoi láthair, ach tá 65 post ceadaithe i bprionsabal, cuid acu sa Tuaisceart. Mar sin, tá spás ann le daoine eile a earcú. Fuaireamar plean le breis earcaíochta a dhéanamh, ach bhí fadbhanna leis an bplean agus bhí sé ag dul anonn is anall. Tá plean leasaithe faighte againn anois. Táimid chun meastóireacht a dhéanamh ar sin agus, le cúnamh Dé, déanfar é a socrú ag an gcéad cruinniú eile den Chomhairle Aireachta Thuaidh-Theas agus beimid in ann bogadh ar aghaidh ina dhiadh sin. Glacaim go hiomlán leis an méid a dúirt an Teachta, idir rud amháin agus rud eile. Tá a fhios againn mar gheall ar na rudaí éagsúla a tharla, ar nós na fadhbanna a bhain leis an struchtúr Thuaidh-Theas. Ní raibh aon Fheidhmeanas ó Thuaidh, mar shampla. Bhí Airí difriúla ag teacht anonn ó Sasana chun plé leis an gceist — b'shin cuid den fhadhb. Bhí drogall áirithe ar an bhforas agus níl aon mhaith a rá nach raibh. Is féidir leis an Teachta a bheith cinnte de rud amháin — is cuma liom cén fhad a thógfaidh sé seo, tarlóidh sé. Caithfidh sé tarlú mar go bhfuil an cinneadh déanta. Níl sé i gceist an ceannáras a athrú. Ní raibh sé sin sa gcéad cinneadh, ach bhí sé luaite ina dhiadh sin. Ba bhreá liom an ceannáras a athlonnú, ach tá sé aontaithe anois nach dtarlódh sé sin sa ghearr-téarma. Níl sé i gceist i láthair na huaire. Tá sé i gceist leanúint leis an dílárnú seo agus creidim gur rud fíor-tábhachtach é sin.
Má théann na postanna seo go dtí an Ghaeltacht, an aontaíonn an t-Aire liom go mbeidh siad an-tábhachtach don cheantar, mar gur postanna teanga-bhunaithe iad a chuirfidh go mór le labhairt na Gaeilge ann? Déanfaidh sé maitheas don Ghaeltacht, chómh maith le fostaíocht a chuir ar fáil, má tá daoine údarásach sa cheantar ag labhairt an teanga.
Déarfaidh mé an fhírinne leis an Teachta — tá súil agam go mbeifear a rá faoi cheann cúig bliana go ndearna dhá cinneadh an-difríocht do Ghaoth Dobhair agus Gaeltacht Tír Chonaill go hiomlán. Tá mé ag caint ar an gcéad dul síos mar gheall ar lonnú NUIG ann agus an comhréiteach a rinneadh le Údarás na Gaeltachta maidir leis an gcóiríocht. Rinneadar an-jab ansin. Tá mé ag caint freisin mar gheall ar dílárnú Fhoras na Gaeilge. Mar a deirim, níl aon cheist ann ach gur bóthar uafásach casta a bhí i gceist teacht chomh fada le seo. Níl sé i gceist tarraingt siar as an gcinneadh seo. Tá sé i gceist agam é seo a fheiceáil tríd. Tá mé cinnte go gheobhaidh mé lán-comhoibriú ó Fhoras na Gaeilge anois chun é seo a chuir i gcrích. Tá a fhios agam go bhfuil comhoibriú an Teachta McGinley agam, mar gur thug sé tacaíocht don phlean seo ó thús. Ba mhaith liom buiochas a glacadh leis as sin.
5 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the steps, following recent drugs finds around coastal areas, his Department will take to ensure that there is a co-ordinated and integrated response to tackling the drugs problem; and if he is satisfied that enough is being done to prevent drugs from being brought in along the coast which is affecting rural communities. [21169/07]
The Government is well aware of the threat from drug trafficking associated with coastal areas and I am satisfied that the relevant authorities — the Customs and Excise Service of the Revenue Commissioners and the Garda, supported as appropriate by the Irish Naval Service — are addressing the issues in a co-ordinated and integrated way. In addition, the response required to tackle this issue is kept under ongoing review. It is generally accepted the most appropriate response is an intelligence-led approach, which optimises the opportunity for intelligence sharing. In that regard, the Deputy should note the imminent setting up of a seven-nation Maritime Analysis and Operation Centre-Narcotics, MAOC-N, based in Lisbon. It is expected that the formal signing of the MAOC-N treaty, which was formally approved by Cabinet yesterday, will take place at the end of this month. This will facilitate the integration of intelligence across the seven nations involved — Ireland, United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France, Spain, Italy and Portugal — and it will further involve close co-operation with the United States. At the same time, it must be acknowledged, however, that it will never be feasible to seal our entire long and often lightly populated coastline and the risk of drugs being landed will persist in Ireland, as happens in other countries with extensive coastlines.
With respect to seizures, both the Garda and the Customs and Excise report significant increases in the volume and number of seizures over the lifetime of the national drugs strategy and all supply reduction performance indicators adopted for the strategy have been exceeded, or are well in the course of being met. With regard to the overall issue of ensuring a co-ordinated and integrated response to tackling the drugs problem, I chair the interdepartmental group on drugs, which meets quarterly to oversee the implementation of the national drugs strategy. Overall, and particularly in the light of a recent wide-ranging meeting of the group, I am satisfied that good progress is being made across the five pillars of the strategy in a co-ordinated way.
Tackling the problem of drugs misuse is a key priority for Government and will continue to be so. This commitment is evidenced by the ongoing increased funding in my Department's Vote. The allocation of €50 million this year represents an increase of 16% on the 2006 figure and is 87% up on the corresponding figure for 2004. I assure the Deputy that I am determined to ensure that adequate resources will continue to be provided in the coming years.
Additional information not given on the floor of the House.
The Deputy should also note that a total of more than €200 million was expended on various drugs programmes across Departments and agencies last year. This figure is exclusive of the many mainstream services that are availed of in the normal way by those affected by problem drug use. Furthermore, the programme for Government commits to implementing the recommendations of the working group on drugs rehabilitation, developing and strengthening the range of projects undertaken by drugs task forces, continuing the operation of the young people's facilities and services fund and expanding its coverage to further towns and providing more cocaine-specific treatment facilities Overall, huge efforts are being made from the ground up to tackle the ongoing problems of drug misuse in an ever-evolving global situation. I acknowledge that much remains to be done to continue to tackle the problem, as is the case in all developed countries, but I believe that significant success has been achieved in reducing the hardship caused to individuals, families, communities and society at large.
I compliment the State agencies on recent drugs finds throughout the country. Earlier, a person who was out walking the dog returned with a significant consignment of drugs. This is a serious issue. The agencies are only recovering a small amount of the drugs entering the State. Recently, I was holding a clinic in Belmullet and I heard Customs and Excise officials were in the area. I decided to visit them.
The Deputy should put a question.
They are doing an excellent job but they only have one boat to cover the entire coastline. That is not acceptable and it is time the Minister of State's Department and the Departments of Defence and Justice, Equality and Law Reform got together. For example, the number of gardaí in the Garda national drugs unit has been reduced. We must be serious about finding drugs and ensuring narcotics do not enter the State. We must secure the regional airports and the coastline as we cannot let these drugs into the country to destroy our communities and the youth. They are being sold openly in this country having been brought from mainland England and elsewhere.
The Government must put more resources into Customs and Excise and the Departments of Defence and Justice, Equality and Law Reform in order to man our coastlines. Criminals are bringing drugs in because they are sophisticated. They have boats and when the drugs are landed, the criminals can locate them. The State must get resources as well.
I am anxious to make progress.
In recent weeks Garda authorities have increased the number of gardaí assigned to drug intervention issues. The interagency approach which is key to all of this is being constantly monitored. In the last number of weeks I have had a number of meetings to ensure the interagency approach is beefed up, for want of a better term.
I had an interesting meeting in July with a group largely representing fishermen from the Howth area. They represented fishermen from Arklow up to the Balbriggan and Drogheda areas. Customs authorities are looking at a pilot project which would engage the coastal communities in supporting intelligence-led, community-based interventions. With such an indented coastline, there is very little chance that every single cove can be monitored so the commitment of the coastal communities is very valuable and the authorities acknowledge their ongoing support.
This can be built upon and with the new satellite and tracking technology available now, co-operation between the fishing and leisure industries and the statutory authorities could lead to significant further progress.
