Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

In reply to Deputy English, the report states that the strategy is working well and that its objectives and aims are well focused. While it suggests some new priorities, and while a few of the strategy's 100 actions are being amended, fundamentally, the strategy gets a clean bill of health.

There will not be a supplementary budget for this year. The budget for this year under the drugs subhead has already been increased by 18%. That has allowed me to do many things, including providing funding for the regional drugs task forces, which were of interest to the Deputy. The plans of seven of the ten regional drugs task forces are now being considered. They will be rolled out as the year progresses.

These plans will address the point made by Deputy Boyle. I acknowledge that the number of heroin addicts in Dublin has stabilised at approximately 12,500 but that heroin use has spread, particularly to the towns of Leinster, such as Arklow, Carlow, Portlaoise, Tullamore, Athlone and similar towns. The services in such areas need improvement.

However, given the 18% increase in funding in this area, no extra funding will be made available this year. Some €5 million was allocated to the regional plans, many of which did not begin last January. While we might not have enough money to roll out those plans on a whole year basis, by the time they get up and running, the year will be at least half over.

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