Vol. 694 No. 4
55 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the actions which will be prioritised under the new National Drugs Strategy to combat the supply of drugs here; the discussions he has had with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41713/09]
A total of 17 actions, Nos. 2 to 18, inclusive, of the National Drugs Strategy 2009-20016 are included under the supply reduction pillar. The objectives of this pillar are to significantly reduce the volume of illicit drugs; to prevent the emergence of new markets for illicit drugs; to disrupt the activities of organised criminal networks; to target the income generated through illicit drug trafficking; and to reduce community drug problems.
The actions of the strategy envisage an increased emphasis on community policing, including through the continued roll-out of local policing forums and the inclusion of drugs issues in a more central way in the work of joint policing committees. Also, I recently announced the extension of the "Dial to Stop Drug Dealing" campaign that has proven effective. Lead responsibility for the delivery of much of the supply reduction pillar of the strategy lies with the Department of Justice Equality and Law Reform, An Garda Síochána and Revenue's Custom Service.
As set out in the strategy, I will meet twice a year with a number of Ministers and various senior officials who are directly involved in the work to address the drugs problem. Since the strategy was launched in September I have already met under this process with the Minister for Justice Equality and Law Reform and the Secretary General of that Department, the Garda Commissioner and senior officials of Revenue's Custom Service. These meetings greatly facilitate a co-ordinated approach to the drugs problem, allow for a useful exchange of views on issues arising in respect of relevant actions of the national drugs strategy and focus on the importance of the continued effective implementation of other programmes that affect the factors underpinning problem drug use.
An oversight forum on drugs, which I chair, has been established under the strategy and the first meeting was held last month. The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Garda and Revenue's customs service are represented on this forum, the primary role of which is the ongoing high level examination of progress across the strategy and the addressing of operational difficulties and blockages that arise.
A drugs advisory group also has been set up with membership drawn from across the statutory, community and voluntary sectors. This group, which meets approximately once a fortnight, advises me, as Minister, on operational and policy matters relating to the national drugs strategy and oversees and supports the work of the drugs task forces. The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Garda and Revenue's customs service also are represented on this group.
I am determined that real progress will be made to combat the supply of drugs across the period of the strategy, with all sectors working in a co-ordinated and targeted way to achieve the implementation of the agreed actions.
The Minister of State's response referred to meetings, resources and everything that is being attempted in Ireland to prevent drugs use and in particular to prevent young people from taking drugs from the perspective of going into schools to educate them. Recently however, Judge Tony Hunt called for security at private airports to be increased. It is outrageous that the Judiciary is worried about drugs coming into this country via private airports. As for the level of checking at such airports, only 18 checks were performed at Weston Aerodrome this year. What are the Minister of State, his committee, the Government and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform doing about private airports?
It is similar to the two-tier approach taken to the issue of drugs itself. While one will not see Garda activity at parties frequented by the upper class, it will be seen in working-class areas in which it is known drugs will be present. A two-tier system is in operation in Ireland in respect of law and order and drugs. Moreover, a two-tier system exists regarding the importation of drugs. The Minister of State should meet the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform immediately and should then report back to this House to inform Members of the measures being taken by the Government and the Garda to stop drugs from being imported via private airports. Second, the Minister of State should raise the issue of unregistered mobile telephones with the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. Although such mobile telephones can be used by gangsters and criminals to tip one another off, there is no security or monitoring of them. I seek information on what is happening in this regard.
Some of the matters raised are outside the Minister of State's direct ministerial responsibility.
He is on the relevant committee that meets in this regard.
That is true.
The specific question asked by the Deputy regarding private airfields and so on perhaps should not be directed towards the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. I understand it falls more properly under the remit of the Revenue Commissioners. I have met the Revenue Commissioners who have advised me that the traffic coming through such airports is profiled and that the Revenue Commissioners have mobile units that carry out random checks. Such random checks are a feature of customs operations and are performed quite regularly, based on profiling of flights, traffic and so forth. Moreover, this does not simply pertain to flights but to traffic entering all ports nationwide. The use of profiling, intelligence and information is the primary way in which the customs service conducts its business.
The Deputy made a number of comments as if to suggest nothing has been done. It is important to put on the record of the House that since the strategy was published on 10 September 2009, I have held a series of meetings with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, that Department's Secretary General, customs, Revenue and the Garda Commissioner and I will outline some of the actions arising therefrom. The number of dog units used to detect drugs entering ports has increased. The customs service recently has launched a new cutter at sea. A new mobile scanner for incoming trucks will be operational before the end of this year. Operation Anvil has been allocated increased funding in the current year. The Government has introduced legislation such as the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act in respect of gangland crime and the Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Act 2009. I also have extended the Dial to Stop Drug Dealing campaign. These actions have been carried out specifically to tackle this problem in recent months.
While everything the Minister of State says is fine, the problem is that a member of the Judiciary has made a public statement to the effect that he is unhappy with the lack of regulation of private airports. Moreover, neither I nor the country in general is happy. The Minister of State should respond in this House at a later stage to the effect that sniffer dogs, the Garda, the customs service and whoever has responsibility will be deployed at private airports, as the flow of drugs into this country must be stopped. The criminals are sophisticated and if they wish to import drugs through private airports, they must be stopped and it should not be made easy for them. The tests that are in place for public airports must also apply for private airports. If this requires the installation of full-time staff in private airports, then this must be done because the scourge of drugs must be stopped.
I disagree with the Deputy when he states that nothing is being done. As I noted, every flight into a private airport is regulated and monitored. The customs service, based on its information, decides on whether to perform a check. This is a small island nation and the risk is as great from the sea. I note that seizures made in this regard have been made at sea rather than at airports. The only way in which we will deal with this issue from a supply reduction point of view is through improved international co-operation. In that regard, I advise the Deputy that the Garda's liaison officers are based in London, the Hague, Madrid, Paris, Lisbon, Europol and Interpol. As one cannot patrol every seaport and airport on a permanent basis, the manner in which one can achieve an effective supply reduction is through such intelligence and information sharing.
56 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress he has made regarding the consideration of the recommendations contained in the report of the special group on public service numbers and expenditure programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41718/09]
As I have stated in the House on a number of occasions, the recommendations in the report of the special group on public service numbers and expenditure programmes represent a set of options that are being considered by the Government in the context of the 2010 budget.
It has been well flagged that serious inroads in the gap in the public finances between income and expenditure must be made. The report from the special group has provided a broad range of measures for consideration by the Government in that regard. As the Deputy will be aware, it proposes a range of savings relating to various functions of my Department. Towards that end, it proposes that a number of schemes be abolished or reduced and makes specific recommendations regarding agencies under the aegis of my Department and indeed the Department itself.
However, I believe it would not be appropriate for me to engage in a line-by-line discussion of the various recommendations of the report from the special group, not least because of the work that is in train by the Government to frame the budget.
The last part of the Minister's response is interesting because the main question being asked nationwide through all the agencies funded by his Department is whether the Department will survive budget day. I note The Irish Times published an advertisement in recent weeks in respect of the appointment of a Secretary General for this Department. Was clearance received from the Minister for Finance for this appointment? If so, can Members take it that the McCarthy recommendation that the Department for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht affairs be dissolved will not take place and that the Government has overruled and cast aside this recommendation? In itself, this will determine many people’s Christmases, because it will ensure that their employment will not be affected. A previous reply from the Minister on the community services programme stated it employed 2,700 people, each one of whom is worried as to where matters stand, how he or she will be affected by the cuts and whether the Department will be dissolved. Given the evidence of the aforementioned advertisement, is it Government policy that this aspect of the McCarthy report will not be implemented? Will those who are employed through the various agencies funded by the Department find out that their jobs are safe and that they can look forward to progressing the many wonderful projects they are implementing at the behest of the Government and the House?
As for the first part of the Deputy's question, the decision to advertise the position of Secretary General of the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs was approved by the Government in the normal way. That job has been publically advertised. In this case it was rightly decided to have a public advertisement to see who would apply not only from within the public service, but also from outside.
The configuration of Departments is purely a matter for the Taoiseach. Even within the current Government, as in the previous Government, responsibilities are in continual flux. Parts of the responsibility for the marine were transferred to the Departments of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and Transport and so on. Where departmental responsibilities move from one Minister to another, it does not put an end to the role. Fisheries continue under the remit of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. People try to spin it to the effect that a change of ministerial responsibilities means a change in or elimination of the programmes but that it is unfair and disingenuous.
The position of Secretary General to the Department has been advertised and it is intended to make an appointment in due course. I know of no proposal at the moment to change the configuration of Departments but that is a matter for the Taoiseach at any time.
It is not correct to say that this is within the remit of the Taoiseach at any time. When a new Government takes office, the Taoiseach determines the different Departments. I do not, however, recall a Taoiseach's deciding in the middle of a Government's term to dissolve a Department as recommended in the McCarthy report. The people want a decision on where this stands. Talking about shifting the responsibility to different Departments removes the resolve that existed in the initial stages of implementation of each project and programme. The concern is that if the Minister of the day in any Department decides on his priorities at the outset but more responsibilities are added in the middle of a Government's term, it reduces the chance of those priorities being processed as the Minister wishes, and as we in the Opposition have on many occasions supported him to do.
Will this Department survive McCarthy? Will the people employed in its various agencies be able to say that there is no change in the projected funding and that, while there may be cutbacks, the thrust of each programme remains the same and that they will not be diversified by falling under the remit of some other Minister? That is the big problem.
The Minister has not made a decision about the appointment of the Secretary General of the Department. He has said it will happen but I want to know when it will happen.
It will happen as quickly as these processes come to a conclusion. The public process will take slightly longer than an internal process would do but there will be no delay. That is not within my control. These recommendations are made independently and a certain number of names are brought forward. That process will go ahead and be brought to completion.
I know of no proposal to change the responsibilities of my Department. I share the view of the Deputy that this Department has done very good work. Many areas, whether severely deprived urban areas, isolated rural areas or islands, would not have received the same attention in the normal way under the line Departments. The same applies for the drug problems with which my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy John Curran, deals. The Department works because it deals with communities on a geographic basis or on the basis of social deprivation. If we did not have that system, these communities would keep falling through the cracks. I fully accept the support of the Opposition Deputies for the work of this Department and their positive attitude.
I know of no change but it would not be true to say that change is not possible because many years ago the Department of Labour was set up, and Dr. Paddy Hillery was appointed, mid-term. I know of no proposal to change this Department. Speaking on TG4, the Taoiseach made it quite clear when asked about the Department's responsibility for the Gaeltacht that he did not visualise change à la McCarthy. I cannot pre-empt any decision he might make but I do not see any imminent change.
57 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if the funding available to Údarás na Gaeltachta is sufficient to capture the potential for job creation in gaeltacht areas; the level of funding that has been made available from the Department of Finance to Údarás na Gaeltachta to allow them to assist in job creation in gaeltacht areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41714/09]
The funding arrangements for Údarás na Gaeltachta are primarily a matter for my Department, in consultation with the Department of Finance. In 2009, the capital funding being provided by the Exchequer to an tÚdarás amounts to €19.65 million. Furthermore, the organisation is allowed to reinvest any return it receives from sales of assets into its capital programme for job creation purposes. This policy has realised additional resources of over €30 million over recent years.
In addition to the aforementioned sources of funding, an tÚdarás is also administering the enterprise stabilisation fund and the employment subsidy scheme in the Gaeltacht on behalf of Enterprise Ireland. I assure the Deputy that an tÚdarás continues to pursue a vigorous strategy aimed at developing and securing employment in the Gaeltacht. My Department maintains regular contact with the organisation in respect of policy and, in this regard, my officials meet with its senior executives frequently about the management of the funding that is available to the organisation. I am acutely aware of the need to support job maintenance and job creation in the Gaeltacht, especially in the current economic climate, and my Department will continue to work closely with an tÚdarás in this regard.
There is no doubt that there is an embargo on job creation in Údarás. Last July, the chief executive or a spokesman for Údarás made clear that it had 250 jobs for the Gaeltacht areas but the Department of Finance issued an embargo. Údarás had the money in its budget but was not allowed to spend it. The same embargo was, however, was lifted for the Industrial Development Authority, IDA, and Enterprise Ireland. There is discrimination against Údarás, rural Ireland and jobs in Gaeltacht areas.
Has the Minister asked the Minister for Finance to lift this embargo? Has he spoken to Údarás about the 250 jobs it proposed to create in the Gaeltacht areas which need it? Gaeltacht areas in constituencies represented by Deputy McGinley's, myself and the Minister have lost many jobs. What is the Minister doing about the 250 jobs Údarás will create if it gets approval for grant aid from the Department of Finance which is holding that back?
The Deputy should calm down. He is in a very excitable humour today.
He has good reason to be.
That is no wonder when I see how the Minister and his colleagues are running the country.
The facts of the case are that Údarás was severely extended because of the lack of its own income this year. It is an important principle for me, although I do not know if the Deputy holds the same view, that Údarás should be able to meet its commitments for grant payments and so on as they fall due. That was not the situation in the middle of the year. I am not blaming the Department of Finance. My Department and I told Údarás not to sanction any further grants until we were satisfied that the sanctioning of further grants would not create an impossible burden on Údarás finance. The collapse of its income has put its capital budget under severe strain.
Permission was given in the autumn to approve grants to the amount of €2 million and again in November to the amount of €1.89 million, which is almost €4 million in total. We are asking Údarás to prioritise grants that would have an immediate benefit. I have suggested that small grants be diverted to Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta, MFG, which has a great deal of money that it has not approved, or a great deal of permission that it has not used. This is the sensible way to proceed.
It is very important for Údarás, at a time when money is scarce, not to get involved in forward building but to concentrate on projects that will yield an immediate return in jobs. If a building is needed as part of a particular project it may go ahead with that if jobs will be created immediately. That is the priority. We are working with them month by month to ensure permission is given for programmes from which jobs can be created and products launched. However, each Department must live within its capital envelopes. The control is being exercised by my Department in this regard.
The Minister can talk all day and night but there is an embargo on jobs in the Údarás. I am disappointed the Minister has not spoken to the Minister for Finance about this matter. How many jobs have been lost because of this embargo? This is discrimination against the Údarás and the Gaeltacht areas because the same embargo that applied to IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland was lifted. I demand this embargo against the Údarás be lifted immediately. It is wrong because the Gaeltacht areas badly need jobs and job creation programmes. The Údarás claims it can create jobs but because of the embargo it cannot. Will the Minister speak to the Minister for Finance to have this embargo lifted?
It is not normal for a Minister to ask the questions on Question Time but, is this an embargo on the recruitment of staff in the Údarás or an embargo on it approving new projects?
The Minister has stopped the Údarás from spending money. The Údarás claims the money is there; the Minister, otherwise. The Údarás claims it can create jobs but the Minister will not allow it to spend money. That is wrong.
The Minister should conclude on the question — rather the answer — instead of drawing more questions upon himself.
The Minister's problem is that he knows the question but he does not know how to answer it. I am after putting it as simply as I can. I cannot put it any simpler. I want jobs in the Gaeltacht and the Údarás.
What I was trying to say, but the Deputy was not listening, was that the Údarás was given permission to approve grants to the value of €2 million in September and a further €1.89 million in November, approximately €4 million in total. We are agreeing with the Údarás on a month-by-month basis on the approval of programmes for job creation within its spending limits. There is no embargo.
All I am asking the Minister to do is to lift the embargo.
It is not possible to lift something that does not exist.
58 D’fhiafraigh Deputy Dinny McGinley den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta an féidir leis a rá go cinnte nach mbeidh aon ghearradh siar ar mhaoiniú do scéim na bhfoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge nuair is ionann an scéim seo agus infheistíocht rialtais de €5 mhilliún sa bhliain i dtionscal a ghineann tuairim is €50 milliún sa bhliain don gheilleagar áitiúil i gceantair Ghaeltachta, agus a chruthaíonn 2,000 post sealadach gach samhradh agus fostaíocht lánaimseartha do 60 duine ar a laghad i rith na bliana, agus i bhfianaise na tacaíochta láidre atá léirithe aige do na mná tí go dtí seo; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [41715/09]
Níl aon chinneadh déanta fós maidir le maoiniú na scéime seo i 2010. Déanfar airgeadú na scéime a mheas i gcomhthéacs na cáinaisnéise agus i gcomhthéacs na hoibre atá idir lámha ag an gCoiste Rialtais don Ghaeilge agus don Ghaeltacht i ndáil leis an Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge.
Mar is eol don Teachta, tá ráite agam go minic go bhfuil Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge ar cheann de na scéimeanna is fearr a fheidhmíonn mo Roinnse ó thaobh láidriú agus cur chun cinn na Gaeilge de. Is léir go bhfuil beocht ar leith le hearnáil na gcoláistí Gaeilge le blianta beaga anuas, le breis agus 27,440 duine ag freastal ar chúrsaí i 2009. Bheinn an-dóchasach go mbeidh ar chumas na gcoláistí deimhin a dhéanamh de go leanfaidh an scéal amhlaidh sna blianta amach romhainn.
Tá lúcháir orm go dtuigeann an tAire an tábhacht a bhaineann leis na coláistí Gaeilge agus go bhfuil buntáiste, ní hamháin ó thaobh na Gaeilge, an oideachais agus an chultúir de leis na coláistí seo ach go bhfuil buntáistí móra eacnamaíochta leo chomh maith do na ceantair Ghaeltachta. Caithfidh an tAire cuimhneamh gur fhreastal 27,000 scolaire ar na coláistí Gaeilge an bhliain seo caite agus gur thug siad ioncam mór isteach sna ceantair Ghaeltachta agus gur chuir siad fostaíocht ar fáil.
An dtuigeann an tAire go bhfuil imní agus éiginnteacht ar na húdaráis sna coláistí anois? Tá siad ag ullmhú don bhliain seo chugainn agus níl a fhios acu an mbeidh aon athrú ann nó nach mbeidh. An ndéanfaidh an tAire an cinneadh gan mhoill sa dóigh is gur feidir leo ullmhúchán a dhéanamh don bhliain seo chugainn agus nach dtarlóidh an rud céanna dóibh agus a tharla an bhliain seo caite, nuair a tharraing an Roinn Oideachais agus Eolaíochta siar an deontas nuair a bhí na táillí curtha amach agus na socruithe déanta leis na tuismitheoirí. Má tharlaíonn sin i mbliana, buille tubaisteach a bheidh ann do na coláistí Gaeilge.
Fiú i dtuarascáil McCarthy, moltar go mbeadh na coláistí ann ar feadh dhá bhliain. Go deimhin féin, mhol McCarthy go gcuirfí deireadh leo ina dhiaidh dhá bhlian. Mar atá ráite agam go minic, tá an-mheas agam ar na coláistí Gaeilge agus glacaim leis go mbeidh na coláistí ann an bhliain seo chugainn. Má thagann aon athrú ar chúrsaí, is ó thaobh iocaíocht na mban tí a bheidh sé so ní dhéanfaidh sin aon difríocht ó thaobh táillí na gcoláistí. Glacaim leis go bhfuil na coláistí ag earcú cheana féin. Ní feidir liom a rá roimh an gcáinaisnéis, go dtí go mbeidh a fhios agam cé mhéad airgead a bheidh ar fáil agam don bhliain seo chugainn.
Ba mhaith liom uair amháin eile a dhearbhú, mar a dhearbhaigh mé thuas i dTír Chonaill ach oiread, go bhfuil tábhacht ag baint leis na coláistí agus go bhfuil mise ag glacadh leis go mbeidh na coláistí ann an bhliain seo chugainn ach ní féidir liom bheith cinnte díreach cé mhéad airgead a bheidh ann do na mná tí.
Tá ceist eile anseo. Go dtí seo, scéim oscailte a bhí sa scéim, is cuma cé mhéad gasúr a tháinig chun na Gaeltachta, d'íoc muid astu. Beidh áthas ar an Teachta fiú cloisteáil go raibh titim fíor-bheag ar na huimhreacha idir 2008 agus 2009. Chuaigh 25,796 go dtí an Ghaeltacht i 2008 agus 25,162 a chuaigh ann i 2009. Is ar éigean go raibh titim ar bith. Murach contae an Teachta féin, bhí titim reasúnta suntasach ansin, d'fhéadfaí a rá nach raibh titim ar bith. I gcuid de na Gaeltachtaí, i nGaillimh, i Maigh Eo agus i gCorcaigh, bhí méadú beag ann. Caithfidh mé déanamh cinnte go mbeidh dotháin airgid ann.
Tá mé cinnte go dtuigeann an tAire cén fáth nach raibh titim ar bith, mar gur iompar na coláistí an costas breise orthu féin. Dá bharr sin, tá géarchéim airgid ag baint leis an coláistí anois.
Chuir an Roinn moltaí ar aghaidh chuig an Bord Snip faoi chuid de na ciorruithe a d'fhéadfaí a chur i bhfeidhm. An raibh tagairt do na coláistí Gaeilge sna moltaí a cuireadh ar aghaidh? San eolas atá le fáil ón Roinn, tá cuid mhór de na moltaí gearrtha amach, tá siad faoi cheilt. Ar mhol an Roinn go ndéanfaí athrú ar scéim na bhfoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge?
Déarfaidh mé an fhírinne, ní dóigh liom é ach ní fhéadfainn bheith cinnte.
Bheadh Oifig an Aire cinnte le Dia cad iad na moltaí a cuireadh ar aghaidh. Níl a fhios ag an Aire? Ni chreidim é sin. Ní chreidim é.
Tabhair seans don Aire an cheist a fhreagairt.
Dúirt se nach bhfuil a fhios aige. Tá a fhios ag an Aire gach rud.
An rud a dúirt mé ná nach dóigh liom é.
Tá a fhios ag an Aire gach rud sa Roinn. Tá sé ansin le tamall fada agus tá a fhios aige gach rud sa Roinn.
Lig don Aire an cheist a fhreagairt.
Ní dóigh liom é ach ar aon chaoi ní raibh in aon mholadh a chuir aon Roinn ar aghaidh ach moladh. Dúirt muid i riamh ó foilsíodh McCarthy gurb iad na polaiteoirí a dhéanfaidh cinntí faoi cad iad na moltaí a chuirfear nó nach gcuirfear i bhfeidhm. Tá ráite agam go min-minic ó shin go dtuigim an tábhacht a bhaineann leis na coláistí Gaeilge. Tuigeann an Rialtas, an Taoiseach agus an tAire Airgeadais an tábhacht sin. Déarfaidh mé uair amháin eile ar thaifead an Tí nach dóigh liom go bhfuil aon scéim Ghaeilge a rinne oiread leas don Ghaeilge ó bunaíodh iad os cionn 100 bliain ó shin ná scéim na gcoláistí Gaeilge. Níl aon leisce orm sin a rá agus, mar sin, is féidir leis an Teachta glacadh leis go mbeidh siad ann an bhliain seo chugainn.
Níor fhreagair an tAire an cheist. Ar chuir sé aon mholadh ar aghaidh maidir leis na coláistí Gaeilge?
Dúirt mé go bhfios dom, níor moladh é sin.
Cad faoi scéim na bhfoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge, ar mhol an tAire deireadh a chur leis sin?
No, no.
59 Deputy Catherine Byrne asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his plans to tackle the increase in heroin and cocaine use, as outlined in the recently published 2009 annual report of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, The State of the Drugs Problem in Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41788/09]
The drug prevalence statistics contained in the recently published report of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction were compiled from the latest figures available for individual countries. In the case of Ireland, they reflect the outcome of the all-island drug prevalence survey 2006 to 2007, which provides the best estimate of the drug prevalence. One of the findings of the 2006 to 2007 survey was the emergence of cocaine as a threat, particularly among younger adults. On the other hand, whole-population surveys are not a reliable mechanism for assessing heroin use as the numbers of people involved are relatively small.
Overall the EMCDDA report points out that cocaine use has risen across Europe; heroin use, which is covered in much less depth in the report, is stable across Europe but no longer shows a decline; and polydrug use is now the norm among problem drug users. These points are broadly in line with experience in Ireland. The introduction to the National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016 speaks of the growth in cocaine use, albeit from a low base, the dispersal of heroin use around the country because when the 2001-2008 strategy was drawn up heroin use was seen primarily as a Dublin issue, and polydrug use as a norm among problem drug users.
Accordingly, the new strategy, which was launched in September, has been drawn up with the aim of addressing such issues. The overall strategic objective of the strategy is to continue to tackle the harm caused to individuals and society by the misuse of drugs through a concerted focus on the five pillars of supply reduction, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and research. The new strategy has an appropriate balance between supply reduction and demand reduction initiatives. Supply reduction measures will focus in particular on measures to reduce the volume of illicit drugs reaching Ireland and the disruption of the activities of organised criminal networks. In regard to demand reduction, there will be a significant emphasis on prevention measures, with some such measures focusing on the broad population, while others will target specific groups deemed to be most at risk. We must endeavour to equip young people, in particular, with the skills and knowledge necessary to make informed choices about their health and future that will include a rejection of drug use. There will be also a major focus on developing a national integrated treatment and rehabilitation service to aid those already involved with drugs.
The difficulties facing our society as a consequence of problem drug use are significant and addressing all the factors involved will not be easy. However, I am determined that real progress will be made across the period of the strategy, with all sectors working in a co-ordinated and targeted way, to achieve the implementation of the agreed actions.
The report also states that Ireland has the fourth highest incidence of cocaine use among 15 to 24 year olds in Europe. I remind the Minister of State it is a known fact that 15 year olds can buy a line of cocaine or a bag of heroin easier than they can buy a packet of cigarettes in a shop. As a result of Government and departmental cuts in community projects, there has been a significant increase in cocaine use in all communities. It is on the streets for all to see and all one needs to do is open one's eyes. Without the intervention of these projects and their influence on young people, their lives are at risk.
I was pleased to hear the Minister of State refer to health as I missed some of his reply. I strongly believe that prevention is the best action.
A question please, Deputy.
The Minister of State should concentrate on the fact that taking away funding for community use through community projects, education and youth cafés, is devastating. I have another question.
I will call the Deputy again.
In reply to Deputy Byrne I wish to be clear that this EMCDDA report ranked Ireland fourth in terms of cocaine use. However, the report is specific in stating that cocaine use is primarily seen in western Europe, in Denmark, Spain, Ireland, Italy and the United Kingdom. I am not trying to diminish the significance of the problem but other countries which do not have a cocaine problem tend to have a problem with other drugs, particularly amphetamines.
I certainly agree with the Deputy on one point. Earlier in the year I attended a UN convention on narcotics. I listened to presentations from a significant number of countries, from the wealthiest to the poorest countries in the world. Every one of those countries had a drugs problem. If as a society we wish to make a significant impact on the drugs problem the only way to do so is in the area of prevention, awareness and education. We can make all the seizures and treat all those who are addicted but if we want to effect a radical change this will happen only through education, prevention and awareness.
I thank the Minister of State for his reply and I agree with him on that point. The report clearly states that the widespread use of cocaine and heroin in the countries to which the Minister of State referred, and the number of people seeking detoxification treatment, increased significantly. The only figures I can find are for 2005 to 2007, when there was a rise of 170% in cocaine-related cases. This is a significant figure. What urgent action is being taken to prevent addiction in the first place? Where this has failed, what measures will be implemented to adequately treat these people and give them proper treatment places? As the Minister of State said, prevention is the most important factor but people are also suffering and they need treatment.
I agree with the Deputy that prevention is the key. I refer to those who are currently addicted and are looking for treatment. The figures referred to are for 2006 to 2007. It is a concern that during times of recession, the emergence of heroin use can pose a significant problem. I have had discussions with the HSE. It was decided in the past month to have additional clinical services up and running before the end of the first quarter of next year in parts of the country where services were poor or non-existent, for example in Wexford, Waterford, Cork, Limerick, Dundalk, Drogheda. In addition, it was decided that GPs would also assist. There must be a combined package, otherwise people will go to a clinic but will not have progression routes and this is not sufficient. In the southern part of the country, the HSE has committed to a number of additional detoxification beds, including counselling services, as not everyone requires an opiate substitute or methadone. An additional 10,000 counselling hours will be provided next year for up to 400 people who are addicted. These are tangible initiatives which are underway as we speak to deal with this issue.
