Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State and his officials to the meeting this morning. I thank the Minister of State for his presentation and congratulate him on his appointment, which I believe to be a significant one. There is a view that, in recent enough times, we have lost focus on this issue. A leading role by the Minister of State is vital to tackling the issue, which is widespread and pervasive. It may not be understood enough at a central level, but this is a problem affecting every town, village and street right across the country. It is significant that a Minister of State is leading in this area and is firmly putting the focus back on dealing with the issues.

I wish to focus briefly on the future. A number of important things need to be done. The Minister of State indicated some of them in his presentation. The most significant one is the drug strategy after 2016 into the future. It is absolutely essential that we have an inclusive discussion and consultation on that strategy, which involves youth and community organisations, family resource centres, those who have been at the front line in dealing with this matter and those who have been affected directly by drugs. That is absolutely essential, and I hope the Minister of State will put in place a formal structure for such an inclusive consultation.

The Garda has done a lot of good work in the area of prevention by identifying and stopping the shipment of drugs. It has also done excellent work in the area of diversion. In the past, certainly in recent enough years, we have to a large extent lost the community policing element. Unfortunately, due to cutbacks or whatever, community gardaí across the country have been transferred to other duties. In many cases, the community policing aspect is tagged on to other duties. There should be a particular focus on community policing and ensuring these gardaí are available to communities.

Community facilities and services is another crucial area in dealing with drug abuse and misuse. The availability of community centres and sporting facilities in our communities is key to our future drug strategy. There is also the question of the adequacy of the law governing this area. The presentation earlier this morning raised that issue. There is a lack of clarity on legal or herbal highs. This aspect is crucial. Those four areas - the inclusiveness of consultation on the new drugs strategy, community policing, community facilities and clarification of the law - will be vital in fighting this problem in the future.