Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

Does the Minister agree he and his colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Noel Ahern, who is responsible for the drugs strategy, have consistently underestimated the seriousness and extent of the problem of cocaine in Dublin city and beyond and the growing crack problem in Dublin city? Is he aware the figures on which he has relied in the past in replies to me and Deputy Crowe are very poor?

If he is looking for indicators as to the seriousness of this problem, they can be found in the July report of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. It indicated that there has been a threefold increase in the prevalence of cocaine use among women between 1999 and 2002. Use among men in the same period has doubled. Other indicators include the huge seizure earlier this year. I commend the drugs squad on that seizure of crack. In previous years, 3 g or 4 g of crack was confiscated yet 300 g alone have been seized this year. That is an indicator. Is the Minister aware of the gravity of the situation? What steps will he take to implement the recommendations of the Oireachtas joint committee in his Department?

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