Mr. Pat Carey:

Not on its own, to be honest. It would be futile to suggest that any one intervention could. As a general criticism of the education sector, and it happened when I was in charge of the strategy also, it has never fully engaged in the full implementation of the national drugs strategy. Whether it is because of caution or some other reason, I am not really sure. Apart from initiatives like our own, such as strengthening families programmes, some of our work is going into classrooms on invitation. However, the engagement of the education sector is marginal, which is unfortunate. The pressures at second level seem to almost preclude any engagement at all apart, from time to time, in transition year. Unless there is a joined-up inter-agency approach, the strategy will never have a chance to work. It is getting ever more complex by the day. It depends on resources. A good deal of fresh new thinking needs to be embarked on. That is why I welcome the debate on criminalisation. It is not the panacea anywhere and we need to come to the best possible solution for the best possible number of people in addiction, but no one agency or Department can make significant or meaningful contribution to the complexities of substance misuse, whether it is alcohol cannabis or benzos.