Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

Tá athas orm deis a beith agam cúpla focail a rá i dtaobh fadhb na ndrugaí. My Department is totally committed to continuing work on the drug scourge. I compliment the Minister of State, Deputy Pat Carey, on the great personal effort he has made in his role since joining the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. We must tackle this significant challenge to society. We can consider this on three levels — the abuse of substances generally, including alcohol which is often a gateway to other types of drug, including prescription drugs. There is also the cocaine issue as mentioned by the previous speaker and the problems of drugs associated with deprivation.

I was interested in the Deputy's reference to foot and mouth disease. In that case ordinary people in urban and rural areas made a conscious decision to ensure that it would not spread in this jurisdiction. Over 90% of the people were fully committed to this decision. Unfortunately, the challenge in respect of drug abuse is that too many people in our society, many of whom are well educated and have had great opportunities in life, do not have the same attitude towards various drugs. The prevalence of the misuse of cocaine in so-called middle class society is testament to the challenge we face in trying to change people's mindsets. It is obvious that we cannot possibly police everybody in the State. The good functioning of society depends significantly on people making personal choices in respect of these matters. It is important to get the message across that this involves personal choice and that the abuse of any substance is unacceptable in society.

The use of heroin and other drugs in deprived communities is a slightly different issue. Many of these communities have suffered serious inter-generational problems, lack of opportunity and life expectation and isolating the drug issue from the other social issues is futile. It is for that reason the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs was set up and that many community programmes, including partnership programmes, community development programmes, the Revitalising Areas by Planning, Investment and Development, RAPID, programme and drugs programmes, operate from within one Department. The idea is to achieve joined-up thinking in tackling the multi-dimensional problems that face communities.

As Minister with special responsibility for the RAPID programme and the areas under its remit, I believe it is an important element in tackling the problems these areas face. The programme helps ensure that we do not see the drug issue as separate from the overriding issues of lack of development and facilities. We have, for the first time, come to realise that creating a dependency on other people to make decisions for these communities, such as a local authority making decisions instead of giving people a say, is a fundamental flaw if people are to be active citizens and full participants in society. I have, therefore, put great emphasis on the need for the area implementation teams to have adequate community representation and for that voice to be heard. My belief is that, even if State funding is used, if people do not have a say in their future, it is difficult to expect social change to occur. The leverage funds and dormant accounts fund provided by my Department specifically for RAPID areas have always come with the proviso that community members of area implementation teams, AITs, must have special input into how these funds are used in their areas.

Over the few years the RAPID programme has operated I have seen how communities have grasped the initiative and have been willing to work with the process to try to cause change from within. The process is slow and, as I have stated, RAPID areas need a long period to develop; residents must understand that their areas will not be removed from the programme as soon as it makes progress. I believe a minimum of 20 years is necessary to bring about the type of social change we seek. In the short history of the RAPID programme it has already brought about not only physical change in terms of better facilities but psychological change in that where the programme works successfully, people believe they have a bigger say in issues that affect them. We must provide the social and educational opportunities that more fortunate people in society take for granted, which means the provision of playgrounds, sports facilities, recreation facilities and activities.

I noted with great regret the terrible events in Ballybeg, Waterford, last weekend but, while it was a tragedy, I do not think it is indicative of the good things that are happening in that housing estate. I visited the area recently to open the sports centre and saw the huge amount of work being done. I compliment Waterford Crystal, a partner in development in the area, on trying to bring about change. Some days one wonders if progress is being made but I believe by working consistently to provide services and back-up we can bring about change in these communities.

Young people are the key because those who have access to organised activities are far less likely to become involved in drugs than those who are idle. The provision of facilities through the young people's facilities and services fund, the staffing of those facilities, the development of services and back-up and encouraging young people to get involved in community activities such as sport, art and drama are central to changing mindsets. I was guest of honour at an awards ceremony for children from Dublin's south inner city recently and I admire the work in many communities that seek to give new outlets to young people for different activities. We must continue to build on this type of diversionary process, which will give people new aspirations and connections.

Is díospóireacht tábhachtach í an díospóireacht seo. Tá go leor oibre le déanamh mar tá fadhb uileghabhálach ar fud na tíre againn maidir le cúrsaí drugaí. Ní féidir linn na maidí a ligint le sruth. Mar atá ráite ag chuile dhuine, is fadhb idirnáisiúnta í seo. Ní féidir balla a thógaint timpeall na tíre. Caithfimid a dhéanamh cinnte go dtéann muid i gcionn ar mheon an phobail, go leanann muid ag rá, arís agus arís eile, nach nglacfaidh muid leis go bhfuil sé sásúil go mbeadh drugaí á thógáil ag daoine. Caithfidh daoine freagracht a thógáil as a gcuid gníomhaíochtaí. Ag an am céanna, caithfimid leanacht leis na cláracha ar nós RAPID, an community service programme, CSP, agus na cláracha éagsúla sna pobail is míbhuntáistiúla, le deis a thabhairt dóibh siúd atá go mór faoi míbhuntáiste teacht aníos ó na fadhbanna atá acu agus teacht ar réiteach ar chuid de na fadhbanna atá sna pobail sin le trí nó ceithre ghlúine anuas.

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