Vol. 657 No. 5
1 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the plans he has to revise the rural scheme to allow more flexibility for fishermen to participate in it in view of the financial crisis currently facing the fishing community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25058/08]
The rural social scheme, RSS, was established to provide income support for low income farmers and fisherpersons who are in receipt of certain specified social welfare payments and to provide certain services of benefit to rural communities.
The renewal process, for the fifth year of the rural social scheme, to commence on 26 July 2008, is currently under way. All rural social scheme participants who are interested in renewing their place on the scheme for the coming year are required to complete the revised 2008-09 renewal form and provide documentary evidence that they are engaged in either a farming or a fishing activity. In the case of a fisherperson, a copy of a relevant licence or permit must be provided with their renewal form.
The scheme is currently available to a wide variety of persons engaged in fishing activity. Fisherpersons that meet any of the following criteria may be eligible to participate in the rural social scheme: a self-employed fisherperson on a fishing boat, which has been entered in the register of fishing boats and a self-employed fisherperson whose boat has been issued with a pot fishing licence. The Department of Communication, Marine and Natural Resources introduced this for small fishing boats such as currachs which traditionally have fished for lobster and were mainly unlicensed; a self-employed fisherperson who has been issued with a commercial eel fishing licence from one of the seven regional fisheries boards; a self-employed fisherperson who has been issued with a dredging licence for shellfish from one of the seven regional fisheries boards; holders of an aquaculture licence issued by the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources; permit holders for shell fishing issued by a registered co-operative; and a self-employed fisherperson who held a commercial salmon fishing licence that issued from one of the seven regional fisheries boards.
However, it should be noted that this latter category has not applied to new applicants since 26 July 2007. The salmon hardship scheme had not been finalised by the rural social scheme renewal date in 2007 and an exception was made to allow participants holding a commercial salmon fishing licence at that time to renew their 2007-08 contract.
Additional information not given on the floor of the House.
For those existing participants who have still not received compensation under the salmon hardship scheme I am making a further exception for the 2008-09 contract year by allowing them to renew their contract again provided they satisfy all other conditions. This category is being kept under review and local implementing bodies will be able to advise those participants of any further updates.
Currently there is a provision for 2,600 participant places on the RSS, all of which have been taken up and quotas have been assigned to each of the implementing bodies.
I am fully aware of the current situation regarding the fishing community, however, I am not considering a further expansion or revision of the rural social scheme at this time. I advise anyone who may be interested in joining the RSS to contact their local implementing body which have been encouraged to form a waiting list of suitable eligible applicants to fill vacancies as they arise on the scheme.
The reason I tabled this question is that the fishing industry is going through a critical time at present. Costs have increased by 40% due to the increased cost of fuel. There are many in the fishing industry whose accounts have been taken from the previous year. Also, they are not in receipt of job seeker's allowance. Given that funding of €214 million has been allocated to the rural social scheme I ask the Minister to create a scheme that will allow more flexibility for fishermen to participate in it, particularly the self-employed who cannot go on job seeker's allowance because they are employed and whose accounts are taken from the previous year, otherwise the industry will not exist in a year's time. I ask the Minister to at least give them some help in the short term until the fuel crisis is over.
What the Deputy appears to be saying, if I understand him correctly, is that the reason the fishermen, to whom he has referred, are not eligible is because of the means test.
That is right.
Fish assist or farm assist is based on 80% of one's income over the actual period. My understanding — I stand corrected if I am wrong — is that if one has a dramatic fall in income from a self-employed basis and one applies for farm assist or fish assist, the Department will take that into account. It is not obliged to take the full previous year's income into account.
It takes into account last year's income.
I am not a social welfare expert but it seems to me there is an income issue in regard to means testing. For argument sake, let us keep the rural social scheme aside. The Deputy said the person has no income.
The Department takes that into account. I suggest the Deputy raise that matter with the Minister for Social and Family Affairs. I must have some way of gauging a person's income, the reason for which is simple. There are only 2,600 places and we want to direct them towards those on low income. For example, there could be a fisherperson who had other business interests or whose spouse or partner had a large income. In all of these schemes family income is taken into account. It would be wrong that such a person could get on the scheme to the exclusion of a person on a much lower income. Therefore there must be some way of gauging a person's income. If there is a problem with the means test, I suggest the Deputy take it up with the Minister for Social and Family Affairs.
I wish to ask a straight question in regard to the rural social scheme. Is a person with a herd number eligible for the rural social scheme? Has the Department changed the criteria in respect of the scheme? Those in receipt of the rural social scheme received a letter today in which they were asked to give evidence that they are actively farming. If there are changes in regard to eligibility for the scheme will the Minister please outline them to the House?
That is a good question. Initially we assumed that if one had a herd number one was an active farmer. I recall that somebody in the Deputy's county wrote to the Department complaining that a person in receipt of the rural social scheme was not a farmer, that the herd number was inactive and long dead. The person had no cattle or sheep but had the herd number. That issue posed a dilemma. Reluctantly, the criteria had to be changed, and we had to specify that the person had to be an active farmer.
The time for dealing with the question has expired.
We specified that one had to be an active farmer. On the form one must prove, in any one of four ways, that one is an active farmer. For example, a letter from the DVO stating that one has an active herd number, that is, the DVO has a record of one having stock, would suffice. Also a copy of one's area aid application for the current year would suffice. If the person has a problem I suggest he or she gets in touch with the Department. If one can prove one is an active farmer, genuinely farming, I promise there will be no problem. Some people thought they had to comply with the four criteria.
2 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his views on a recent programme (details supplied) which highlighted the ease of availability of drugs on the streets here and the widespread demand for drugs; the steps he is taking to reduce the demand for drugs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24975/08]
The programme in question showed instances of the availability of drugs in a number of locations, indicating a level of demand for these drugs. However, I do not think it produced evidence of any new issues that we are not already aware of and that we are not currently working to address through the national drugs strategy.
In terms of robust evidence of the drug situation in Ireland, I would place much greater emphasis on the results of the All-Island Drug Prevalence Surveys, carried out in 2002-03 and 2006-07 by the national advisory committee on drugs, NACD, in conjunction with its colleagues in Northern Ireland. Comparisons between the two surveys indicate that the drug problem facing the country is changing to a degree.
Evidence from the first bulletin of the 2006-07 prevalence survey, launched in February 2008, indicates that while rates of lifetime and recent, last year, overall illegal drug misuse have increased, the level of current illegal drug use has stabilised. Bulletin 2 of the survey, which I launched yesterday, indicates there are variations between the different regions of the country, with prevalence rates tending to be higher across all age groups in the east, roughly from Dundalk to Cork.
The increase in lifetime use for all drugs was expected given that older people tend to have less exposure to and usage of drugs over their lifetimes and that illegal drug use is primarily a youth or younger adult phenomenon. Lifetime prevalence rates are likely to increase for a considerable period of time as older people, who have never encountered drugs, exit the survey cohort on reaching 65 years of age and are replaced by teenagers coming into the survey age range. The increase in last year use is of more concern and it emphasises the challenging task we continue to face in tackling problem drug use. Meanwhile, the overall stabilisation in last month use is to be welcomed and I am hopeful that, with the continuing valuable work being done through the national drugs strategy, this trend will continue.
Additional information not given on the floor of the House.
With respect to the suggested ease of availability, I emphasise that the Garda and the customs service of the Revenue Commissioners, as acknowledged in the programme, have been very successful in recent times in regard to the numbers of seizures they are making, the quantity of drugs being seized and number of convictions being obtained. This is reflected, for example, in the 125 kg of heroin seized last year by the Garda with seizures at a similar level continuing this year. Both these services are using an intelligence-led approach to interrupt supply.
I fully accept that our approach to tackling the drug problem must involve a combination of demand reduction and supply reduction measures. Our focus in terms of demand reduction is primarily on the areas of treatment, rehabilitation and prevention. It is clear from the research outcome study in Ireland, ROSIE, carried out by the NACD, that treatment has a direct impact on demand for drugs with a significant reduction in the usage of drugs reported by those entering and staying engaged in treatment. Overall numbers in treatment now stand at approximately 12,700, with 8,600 of those in receipt of methadone. Successful engagement with treatment not only has significant benefits for the individual but also for their families, their wider communities and for society at large. Meanwhile, we are progressing the implementation of the recommendations of the working group on drugs rehabilitation and I envisage significant progress in that regard in the coming years.
As regards prevention, the national drugs strategy has focused in particular on education initiatives such as Walk Tall and the social personal health programme, SPHE, which are now in place in all schools, at primary and second level. Last February, the HSE launched a new national drugs awareness campaign focused on cocaine. In this context, I am also now making funding of €500,000 available for awareness initiatives at drug task force level to dovetail with the campaign at national level. This initiative will augment the many existing drug task force projects that are focused on prevention. Furthermore, around €20 million in current and capital funding will be provided this year under the young people's facilities and services fund, which aims to divert ten to 21 year olds away from involvement with drugs.
Finally, as the Deputy is aware, the new national drugs strategy, which is being formulated for the period 2009-16, will continue to combine supply reduction and demand reduction measures, with the aim of achieving the optimum balance. I envisage that the new strategy will have a significant emphasis on prevention, combined with treatment and rehabilitation measures to aid those already involved with drugs. At the same time, the drugs problem is a global issue and there will always be a need to continue to have a focus on supply reduction.
I congratulate the Minister of State, Deputy Curran, on his appointment and wish him well in his new portfolio, which is a very challenging one. I am sure he will approach it in his own capable way.
The matter in hand came to light through an excellent programme from the TV3 series, "Undercover Ireland" by Brian O'Donovan and subsequent articles in the Irish Independent and the Sunday Independent. As I understand it, there are two pillars under which drugs were to be challenged; one being a reduction in supply, with the second pillar relating to reducing the demand. The Garda is finding it difficult to tackle the first pillar but I congratulate it on the efforts it is making. The Government is failing badly in terms of creating greater awareness of drug use. We are not using the various groups of people that are available to help us to highlight the threat of drugs. Cocaine use has doubled since 2003 and one in four Irish adults takes drugs. The reality is that we are not winning the war on drugs and all the media messages we get tell us that. My contention is that we are not using the existing facilities and the people who can help to the best advantage. When or how will the Minister of State address the matter? Will he use all the national sporting organisations, local authorities and housing agencies to work together to highlight the drugs problem? Everything I see in the media currently contradicts the Minister of State’s assertion that we are winning the war.
I thank Deputy Wall for his kind comments at the outset. Prevention and awareness are two different aspects of the problem. We work with local authorities and sporting organisations. They play a key role, primarily from the point of view of being a deterrent. Local authorities work with soccer and GAA clubs, among other groups, through the young people's facilities and services fund on programmes that aim to divert young people away from drugs.
Awareness falls into a couple of main categories. Most of the awareness campaigns that we run are through the education system. I refer to the SPHE and the Walk Tall programmes in schools. In addition, we have run public awareness campaigns, for example, on cocaine. This year the Department will spend €500,000 through local drugs task forces to deal with the dangers of cocaine use in local projects. It is not fair to say we are not working with sporting organisations and national bodies. Perhaps the manner in which we work with them is not necessarily highlighted but the involvement is evident through the work of the local drugs task forces to help divert people away from the drug culture.
3 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if the public consultation process for the National Drugs Strategy 2009 to 2016 has been completed; the number of submissions received to date; the issues that have been highlighted by those participating in the consultation process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25059/08]
I thank Deputy Ring for asking this question because since I was landed into the Department, that is what I have been occupied with in recent weeks.
As part of the process of developing the next national drugs strategy to cover the period 2009 to 2016, the steering group chaired by my Department, which is overseeing the process, is currently completing a comprehensive series of consultation meetings. I am attending as many of those meetings as possible, as I see them as a key part of the process of developing a new strategy. The consultation process includes public consultation meetings at 15 locations nationally; written and e-mail submissions; meetings with relevant Departments and statutory agencies; meetings with key sectoral groups and organisations; focus group meetings; and engagement with the Oireachtas. All 15 public consultation meetings have now been held, with reports on all — except the final meeting in Croke Park — now available on my Department's website, www.pobail.ie. The report from this session will be available within the next week. The feedback received from attendees at those sessions has been favourable and people felt that there was good interaction, with ample opportunity to air their views and opinions.
The meetings sought to identify the concerns of individuals and communities on drugs, the successes of the existing strategy and the gaps that need to be addressed with a view to identifying what the main priorities should be for the new strategy. While there were interesting regional variations, there was a reasonably significant level of consistency in the views expressed at the meetings. Briefly, some of the concerns identified included the level of heroin use outside Dublin and the availability of drugs services generally outside Dublin, addiction to prescription and over-the-counter drugs, the level of acceptance of alcohol abuse in Ireland and the importance of engaging and supporting families, as well as family intimidation in some communities from drug dealers.
In terms of what works well, the following are some of the issues that were identified, increased drug seizures; increased levels of funding that have been provided in recent years, particularly for community-based initiatives; integrated services — where they are in place they appear to work well; the community-partnership approach was also seen to work well; community employment schemes that target recovering drug users; and various individual initiatives in different areas. A number of priorities for the future were identified and they included prevention measures in out-of-school settings as well as in schools; and an increased range and availability of treatment services, with a continuum of care for individuals and an integrated multi-agency approach.
Additional information not given on the floor of the House.
They also include more widespread availability of methadone, with options to move on from this treatment; a greater focus on rehabilitation of problem drug users; more family support measures; and a more integrated approach to the problems of illicit drugs and alcohol, with some favouring a joint strategy.
With regard to the other elements of the consultation process, the Deputy should note that more than 120 submissions by e-mail and in writing have been received from various organisations and individuals. The closing date for receipt of submissions is next Monday, 30 June 2008.
Most of the meetings with Departments and agencies have been held at this stage, and the steering group has started to meet with key sectoral groups and focus groups. All in all, it is hoped to have the overall consultation process, which will involve about 45 meetings in total, completed by mid-July. Meanwhile, I encourage Oireachtas Members to make an input into the process in their capacity as elected representatives. I am conscious that the current strategy grew out of a political consensus in the late 1990s and I would welcome a continuation of that broad approach. Last week, I attended a debate in the Seanad that afforded Senators an opportunity to contribute to the process and I will meet with the Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs on 24 September to hear the views of its members. The views of Deputies and Senators will continue to be welcome as the strategy is formulated in the coming months. Following the end of the overall consultation process, work on the finalisation of proposals will continue with a view to having a new strategy developed by the end of the year.
I congratulate Deputy Curran and wish him well on his appointment. He has a very challenging time ahead given what we heard from the report of the national advisory committee yesterday. The percentage of people in the west of Ireland using drugs has increased from 12.5% in 2002 and 2003 to 23%. On the east coast 38% of people are using drugs. The most staggering results that emerged yesterday is that 50% of young people in Ireland admitted to taking drugs compared with 40% of young people in America. We have a more serious problem than America. Did we ever think we would see the day?
When will the draft strategy begin in earnest and when will it be in place? Seven locations in the midlands have no drug treatment services. What will be done to address that gap? What does the Department propose to do about the Health Service Executive's cutbacks? Will the Department have discussions with the Department of Health and Children? What services will be provided between now and the end of the year to deal with the current crisis in drug taking?
I thank the Deputy. The figures to which he referred are lifetime figures for anyone who has ever used a drug and they do not accurately represent what is happening. We are more concerned with the figures for last month or last year. I accept the point Deputy Ring made about the trend increasing outside the Dublin area. The figures in the report published yesterday are very important because they also identify the different types of drug that are being used in different parts of the country.
The consultation process is ongoing and we hope to conclude it by mid-July or the end of the month. Apart from the public consultation meetings that took place prior to my appointment, I have attended many of the meetings. The HSE is a key element in the equation. We have met with the HSE and will meet with it again. The role of the Department and my role as Minister of State is to co-ordinate the entire programme. There are more than two pillars and more than a handful of service providers and that requires a co-ordinated approach. The consultation process is due to finish before the summer. The strategy is aimed at the period 2009 to 2016 and we hope it will be published sometime early next year.
I am concerned about the lack of detox beds. There is no dedicated service in Cavan, Laois, Leitrim, Longford, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary north and Westmeath and something needs to be done. We have a problem because the HSE is cutting back. We need more treatment services because there is currently a lack of services. I need a commitment from the Minister of State that he will talk to the HSE because when the Dáil closes down on 10 July it will make more cutbacks. Something needs to be done. There is no point pretending we do not have a problem. We did that for too long. We have a serious drug problem and we need to tackle it. The previous national drugs strategy did not work and we need to implement the recommendations now to address the crisis that affects all sections of society. The Garda needs to target some high profile people and bring them to court to show young people that it is not trendy to take drugs.
It is not a fair comment that the current national drugs strategy has not worked. Perhaps aspects of it did not work but, nonetheless, significant successes are apparent. On the Deputy's specific request, we are engaged in ongoing discussions with the HSE, and not just in the Deputy's area, as the strategy is a national one. However, the Deputy's points are well made and were reflected in the consultation meetings we have had.
4 D’fhiafraigh Deputy Dinny McGinley den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta cén líon cruinnithe a bhí ag fochoiste Comh-Aireachta na Gaeilge go dáta, an dul chun cinn atá déanta maidir le Plean Náisiúnta na Gaeilge [24903/08]
Faoi mar atá curtha in iúl don Teach cheana, bunaíodh an Coiste Rialtais a luann an Teachta chun breathnaithe ar shaincheisteanna a thagann chun cinn i gcomhthéacs na hanailíse agus na moltaí sa tuarascáil a d'eascair ón Staidéar Teangeolaíoch ar Úsáid na Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht. Bhí an chéad cruinniú den Choiste ann ar 10 Aibreán 2008.
Ag éirí as ath-ainmniú an Rialtais ar 7 Bealtaine 2008, tá cinneadh déanta go mbeidh ballraíocht ag an gCoiste mar seo a leanas: An Taoiseach (Cathaoirleach); An Tánaiste agus Aire Fiontair, Trádála agus Fostaíochta; An tAire Airgeadais; An tAire Comhshaoil, Oidhreachta agus Rialtais Áitiúil; An tAire Iompair; An tAire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta; An tAire Gnóthaí Sóisialacha agus Teaghlaigh; An tAire Oideachais agus Eolaíochta; An tAire Gnóthaí Eachtracha; An tAire Cumarsáide, Fuinnimh agus Acmhainní Nádúrtha; agus An Príomh-Aoire. Tá mé ag súil leis go mbeidh an chéad chruinniú eile den choiste ann go luath.
Maidir leis an Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge, tá an chuid sin den phróiseas a bhaineann leis an gcéad chéim den chomhairliúchán phoiblí ag teacht chun deiridh. Tionóladh cruinnithe poiblí i gCorcaigh, Luimneach, Baile Átha Cliath, Gaillimh agus Sligeach sa tréimhse ó 30 Aibreán go 14 Bealtaine 2008.
Ina theannta sin, dearadh ceistneoir ar-líne i nGaeilge agus i mBéarla dóibh siúd nach raibh ar a gcumas teacht chuig na cruinnithe. Tá na ceistneoirí seo ar fáil ar an suíomh idirlín www.plean2028.ie. Chomh maith leis sin, is féidir leo siúd gur mian leo foirm chrua den cheistneoir seo a líonadh.
Ó thaobh na gcéad céimeanna eile den phróiseas, tá i gceist tosú ar phlé-pháipéar a ullmhú a leagfaidh síos na príomh-saincheisteanna don straitéis, ag cur san áirimh na moltaí a tháinig ón bpobal trí na cruinnithe poiblí agus na ceistneoirí, chomh maith le moltaí ó gheallsealbhóirí eile. Táthar ag súil go mbeidh an plé-pháipéar ullamh i gcóir comhairliúchán poiblí sa bhfómhar. Ina dhiaidh sin, réiteoidh mo Roinn an dréacht-straitéis le cur ós comhair an Rialtais. Táthar ag súil leis an bpróiseas iomlán a bheith críochnaithe roimh dheireadh na bliana.
Gabhaim buíochas leis an tAire as an t-eolas a thug sé dúinn ina fhreagra. Is é an rud a léiríonn sin ná an easpa práinne atá leis an bhfochoiste seo agus an obair atá idir lámha acu. Má thuigim i gceart an méid a dúirt an tAire, ní raibh ag an fochoiste ach cruinniú amháin ó bhunaíodh é i mí Aibreán seo caite. Tá práinn mhór le gníomh gan mhoill. Bheinn ag súil go mbeadh cruinnithe rialta ag an bhfochoiste idir seo agus deireadh na bliana. Dúirt an tAire go raibh an Taoiseach mar chathaoirleach ar an bhfochoiste agus go raibh an Tánaiste ar an gcoiste fosta. An é an Taoiseach úr atá mar chathaoirleach air agus an bhfuil an bhallraíocht chéanna ann? Tá géarghá le gníomh láithreach.
Mar eolas don Aire, fuair mé glaoch teileafóin ó mo dháilceantar inniu i dtaobh fógra atá lasmuigh den Teach. Bhí duine éigin ag siúl ar Shráid Chill Dara agus chonaic sé an fógra mór taobh amuigh den Dáil ag cur fáilte roimh a theaghlach teacht isteach anseo ag an deireadh seachtaine, mar go bhfuil lá oscailte sa Teach. Creid nó ná creid — ní fhaca mé an fógra go fóill — ach deirtear liom nach bhfuil sé ach i mBéarla amháin. Má tá sin fíor, is cúis scannail agus éadochais é go bhfuil muidne anseo ag iarraidh na Gaeilge a chur ar aghaidh le hAcht na Gaeilge agus Gaeilge ag leibhéal na hEorpa, ach nuair a chuirtear fógra suas do phobal na hÉireann taobh amuigh de Dáil Éireann, nach bhfuil sé ach i mBéarla amháin. Má tá sin fíor, tá géarghá le cruinnithe níos minicí agus le gníomh gan mhoill.
Beidh sé i nGaeilge an chéad lá eile.
Fágfaidh mé an píosa deiridh sin faoin Cheann Comhairle agus faoi Choimisiún Thithe an Oireachtais. Tá sé fíor — thóg mé faoi deara é. Fágfaimid é sin sin ar leataobh.
Tá obair an choiste aireachta ag dul ar aghaidh. Leag mé amach an chaoi ina bhfuil an obair ag dul ar aghaidh go díreach i gcomhthéacs an phlean don Ghaeilge. Ní bheidh mórán cruinnithe don fhochoiste Rialtais i gceist. Is ag deireadh gach phríomh-chéim a eagrófar na cruinnithe agus a thógfar na cinnithe. Tá mé dírithe go hiomlán ar an rud a gheall mé a dhéanfadh mé. Tógfar cinnithe ar an staidéar teangeolaíochta agus ar an bplean don Ghaeilge roimh deireadh na bliana seo. Tá sé i gceist againn an spriocdháta sin, atá leagtha amach romhainn, a chomhlíonadh. Tá brú á chur ar an obair. Níl dóthain oibre déanta, ó thaobh an phlean don Ghaeilge de, go mb'fhiú dul ar ais go dtí an choiste. Thug mé na sonraí faoin chóras chomhairliúchán a bheidh againn. D'iarr an Teachta orm chomhdhéanamh an choiste a leagan amach. Tá an Taoiseach mar chathaoirleach ar an gcoiste. Bhí sé mar Tánaiste agus Aire Airgeadais nuair a bhunaíodh an choiste, ach tá sé sin athruithe anois. Tá mé ag caint mar gheall ar an bhfear céanna, ach tá post difriúil aige ó thugadh ardú céime dó.
5 Deputy Catherine Byrne asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his views on a combined approach to combating the problems associated with drugs and alcohol; the plans he has to integrate alcohol into the new national drugs strategy; the extent to which he is working with the working group on alcohol and drugs; when he expects to receive its final recommendations; the ways they will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24904/08]
Against the background of the formulation of a new national drugs strategy for the period from 2009 to 2016, I have an open mind, at this stage, on a combined approach to tackling the problems associated with drugs and alcohol. However, I favour exploiting the potential for synergies that exist in our current approaches. In considering the five pillars of the national drugs strategy, it is clear there are considerable existing and potential synergies in the approach to drugs and alcohol across the areas of prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and research. Given that alcohol is a legal and regulated substance, the potential for synergies in the supply reduction area is, as the Deputy will appreciate, more limited.
It is clear to me as a public representative, as Minister of State with responsibility for the national drugs strategy and as a father that people are increasingly exercised about the issue of alcohol use, and rightly so. I am sure the Deputy is all too familiar with issues such as under-age drinking, binge drinking leading to potential public order problems and the levels of excessive drinking generally with the resultant health problems. Alcohol is also seen as a gateway to the use of illicit drugs.
As the Deputy will be aware, a steering group was established earlier this year to develop proposals and to make recommendations to me on a new national strategy. The group, which is chaired by my Department, is conducting extensive consultations in this regard. Public meetings at 15 locations were held as part of the consultations and I attended the last three, following my appointment. At these meetings the question was posed as to whether synergies between alcohol and drugs policies can be improved, and whether a single substance misuse strategy is now appropriate in Ireland. Generally the response favoured developing the potential for greater synergies as much as possible, with mixed views on whether there should be a fully combined substance misuse strategy. However, the emphasis of attendees was on the need for a more co-ordinated approach, recognising the close links between the problems associated with drugs and alcohol, rather than on the details of the organisational and governance arrangements that might be put in place.
Additional information not given on the floor of the House.
My Department is also represented on the working group on alcohol and drugs which is chaired by the Department of Health and Children, and I am aware of its deliberations to date. I hope to receive the recommendations of this working group in the autumn at a stage when they can be considered in the context of the finalisation of proposals for a new national drugs strategy. Furthermore, my officials and I will meet the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Mary Wallace, next week to discuss the broad issues around the future approach to problems associated with alcohol and illicit drugs. I am committed to developing the optimum approach to tackling the problems of substance abuse in the coming years and any strategies to be put in place will be aimed at achieving this.
I congratulate the Minister of State on his recent appointment. Having listened to his reply, I am not sure that separating the misuse of alcohol is a good idea. Alcohol and drugs misuse are closely connected and it makes sense to have a co-ordinated approach to tackling the problems such misuse creates. What happened to the national alcohol policy that was introduced in 1996? Action 19 of the national drugs strategy indicated that the early use of alcohol and drugs by young people coming to Garda attention would be followed by community policing, and health and social services intervention in order that the problem of drug misuse could be diagnosed early and hopefully halted. Does the Minister of State believe this group has been effective in identifying young people at risk from alcohol and drug misuse, and providing early interventions? I believe social services have failed to provide the aftercare and have not intervened in many of these cases, something which needs to be addressed.
The issue of having a single policy has attracted considerable interest. There would be one concern if we were to have a combined strategy for misuse. How do we structure it and are the existing services such as local drugs task forces adequately resourced to deal with it? Different people have different views, but the one message coming across loud at all the meetings was the point the Deputy made. Everybody acknowledges that alcohol is the gateway drug to illicit drug use. Our Department is represented on the working group on alcohol and drugs. It is chaired by the Department of Health and Children and is due to report to us shortly.
One final meeting that will be of critical importance and which is also part of our consultation for the next drug strategy will be between my Department and the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children with responsibility for the alcohol strategy, Deputy Wallace, next week. From that meeting I can give Deputy Byrne some idea of how we are doing. However, since it falls under two different Departments, where we go with it is not totally my call. Whatever the final outcome, we need much closer relationships because there is no getting away from the point that alcohol is part of the drugs strategy. Whether there will be two stand-alone strategies or a single one is up for debate and there are mixed views on where to go. If Deputy Byrne wants, I will talk to her after that meeting next week.
