Willie Penrose
Ceist:181 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will report on the progress made to date in implementing the new National Drugs Strategy launched in May 2001. [7698/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 9 March 2004
Ceisteanna (103, 104)
Freagraí scríofa
As the Deputy is aware, my Department has overall responsibility for co-ordinating the implementation of the National Drugs Strategy 2001-08. The strategy contains 100 individual actions, under the four pillars of supply reduction, prevention, treatment and research, to be implemented by a range of Departments and agencies. Since it was launched in May 2001, these Departments and agencies have made considerable progress in implementing the actions set out for them in the strategy. In particular, it should be noted that: Garda operations continue to result in significant drug seizures with an estimated street value of approximately €49 million seized in 2002. Provisional indications for 2003 well exceed this figure. Both the Garda and the customs authorities remain well on track in achieving their drug seizure targets as set out in the national drugs strategy. Street level dealing is being tackled by specific Garda operations such as Clean Street and Nightcap; guidelines to assist schools in the development of a drugs policy have also been developed and were issued to all primary and post primary schools in May 2002; the Department of Education and Science implemented substance misuse prevention programmes in all schools in the LDTF areas during the academic year 2001-02 and the social personal and health programme or SPHE has been on the curricula of all primary and secondary schools since September 2003. This work is being supported by the SPHE support service, which has recruited additional trainers and support officers; considerable progress is also being made on increasing the number of methadone treatment places. The number of places at the end of December 2003, the latest date for which confirmed figures are available, was 6,883. The equivalent figure at the end of 2000 was 5,032; ten regional drugs task forces or RDTFs have been established throughout the country. They are currently mapping out the patterns of drug misuse in their areas — as well as range and level of existing services — with a view to better co-ordination and addressing gaps in the overall provision; the Department of Health and Children launched a national awareness campaign in May 2003. The campaign features television and radio advertising supported by an information brochure and website, all designed to promote greater awareness and communication about the drugs issue in Ireland. This first phase targeted the general population while the second phase, launched in October, is aimed at parents. A third set of TV advertisements were recently aired; Customs and Excise has launched a coastal watch programme and have implemented a number of measures to enhance drugs detection capability at points of entry; and over 1,120 recovering drug misusers are now on the special FÁS community employment scheme.
The strategy also provides for an independent evaluation of the effectiveness of the overall framework by the end of this year. This will examine the progress being made in achieving the overall key strategic goals set out in the strategy and will enable priorities for further action to be identified and a refocusing of the strategy, if necessary. The Deputy should note that my Department also has responsibility for the work of the 14 local drugs task forces and for the Young Peoples Facilities and Services Fund or YPFSF.
To date the Government has allocated or spent: approximately €65 million to implement in the region of 500 projects contained in the two rounds of plans of the LDTFs; more than €11.5 million under the premises initiative, which is designed to meet the accommodation needs of community based drugs projects, the majority of which are in LDTF areas; and approximately €68 million to support in the region of 350 facility and services under the YPFSF. The main aim of the fund is to attract "at risk" young people in disadvantaged areas into recreational facilities and activities and divert them away from the dangers of substance abuse.
I expect to make allocations under round II of the Fund in the very near future.
Dan Boyle
Ceist:182 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the way in which the continuing high level of deaths from heroin use is influencing the implementation of the National Drugs Strategy. [7719/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, my Department has overall responsibility for co-ordinating the implementation of the National Drugs Strategy 2001-08. The strategy contains 100 individual actions, under the four pillars of supply reduction, prevention, treatment and research, to be implemented by a range of Departments and agencies. The question of drug-related deaths was one of the issues considered in developing the strategy.
At present, drug-related deaths are recorded by the general mortality register of the CSO, based on the International Classification of Diseases, ICD, code system. However, the available statistics are limited and relate to years prior to the commencement of the strategy. Other countries have developed dedicated systems for recording drug-related deaths and it is important, for the purposes of comparative analysis, that the Irish system is capable of generating an equivalent level of information. It is for this reason that one of the actions contained in the national drugs strategy calls for the development of an accurate mechanism for recording the number of such deaths. Overall responsibility for this action rests with the coroner's service and the Central Statistics Office and work has commenced on developing such a mechanism.
International evidence supports the view that opiate misusers are safer in treatment, therefore every effort is being made in Ireland to encourage them into treatment. The Deputy will be aware that the treatment of drug misusers is the primary responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Health and Children. In this context it is worth noting that the number of methadone treatment places has expanded considerably in recent years, in line with the commitment under the national drugs strategy. At the end of December 2003, there were 6,883 people receiving methadone treatment. This compares with a figure of just over 5,000 at the end of 2000.
In the Eastern Regional Health Authority there are currently 59 drug treatment locations. This compares with 12 locations in 1997. Outside the ERHA, treatment clinics have been established in the South Eastern Health Board, Mid-Western Health Board, Western Health Board and Midland Health Board. General practitioners and pharmacists also provide treatment services and their involvement has also increased over the last number of years.
Furthermore, I am informed by the Department of Health and Children that all clients entering the addiction services are assessed and appropriate treatment plans are identified based on client needs. Decisions concerning the appropriate treatment for patients are made in accordance with best practice guidelines. In this regard, overdose prevention is an inherent part of the comprehensive range of services which the health boards provide, including education and prevention, treatment and rehabilitation, counselling and harm reduction.
For opiate misusers outside of treatment, outreach workers and needle exchange services actively engage drug misusers to promote safer drug using practices to address the risks involved in terms of overdose, transmission of blood-borne viruses and unsafe sex practices. Harm minimisation is at the core of the Health Boards outreach strategy in the ERHA area, where heroin misuse is most prevalent and this includes the risk of overdose.
Question No. 183 answered with Question No. 114.
Question No. 184 answered with Question No. 163.