Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)

The mid-term review showed some progress but I fear we might become complacent. There are still many problems because progress is not balanced, it has been made in the city but the problems are growing worse in the regions, with a report yesterday showing that deaths had risen ten fold. The new framework should concentrate on all areas and not just the city. There is no point fixing one problem while other problems are developing around us, which we ignore. Effort must be put into work in the regions.

How many of the regional drugs task forces have submitted plans? Have those plans been reviewed? What plans exist for funding them? Will the Department play an active role in pushing for results? There has been a lack of urgency in dealing with the regional drugs task forces in recent years. It is too easy to say they have not reported or submitted their plans. The Department must drive the regional task forces to get results and make changes. The Department cannot do everything but it must give them a bit of a push and display a sense of urgency.

The Minister of State is not responsible for all the problems but he is the man in charge of driving these projects. How proactive is the Department of Health and Children? According to the Department's figures, 59 initiatives are still awaiting implementation. What role will the Department of Health and Children play? Is it considering a withdrawal of support from the drugs task forces, leaving them to the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs?

The Department of Health and Children failed to provide immediate access for drug abusers to professional assessment and counselling by health board services in all areas. There are major waiting lists. That is the fault of the Department of Health and Children and the Health Service Executive which have failed to develop enough drop-in centres and half-way houses for which there is a major demand. In the judicial area, the rolling out of the community policing fora is badly needed as they do work. Communities must become involved in solving their problems and young people must be involved in projects in their areas, getting to know the gardaí through the community policing fora.

Not every Garda station has a specific drug unit or squad. A station may have access to one or be able to request a drugs unit from headquarters. This is not good enough as a rapid reaction is needed. The Garda will put more effort into tackling other criminal activity which is easier because drugs offences are more long term.

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