Seán Ardagh (Dublin South Central, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputy O'Connor for allowing me to share time. I represent the constituency of Dublin South-Central which takes in some of the most deprived areas in Dublin, including Fatima Mansions, Dolphin House, Merchant's Quay and St. Michael's Estate. The devastation caused over the years by drug and alcohol abuse to personal, family and community life is all too evident in these areas.

The way the State interacts with such communities largely dictates the approach of wider society and the relative success in solving these problems. In the cases of Fatima and St. Michael's House money invested recently and the work of the local community have improved the areas and helped the regeneration of flats. It is possible that this will be replicated in Dolphin House and St. Teresa's Gardens. Local drugs task forces have been engaged in the challenge also.

Ten years ago, when I began in Dáil Éireann, the situation was deplorable. Things have improved, but not sufficiently. Drug use is often seen as a problem that impacts on individuals, communities and society but not on families. It is estimated that there are 15,000 heroin users in Ireland and that means 15,000 families are blighted by addiction. Not only is it a life of addiction but it brings total marginalisation and poverty.

This relates only to heroin. I recently read statistics on the quantity of drugs seized by the Garda Síochána from 2000 to 2005. Heroin seized rose from 23.9 kg to 32.28 kg over those six years. That represents an increase of only 35%. I say "only" because it is small relative to the amount of cocaine seized in recent years. In 2000 18 kg of cocaine was seized and in 2001 it was 5.3 kg. By 2004 this had risen to 167.3 kg and by 2005 it reached 229.38 kg. This is an increase of 1,174%. Those of us representing marginalised areas are aware of the availability of cocaine and how it has substituted for heroin to a large extent. However, the use of cocaine is not a problem confined to marginalised areas. It badly affects people in all strata of society. It leads to health and addiction problems that result in the type of marginalisation and poverty that many people in the inner city and other deprived areas have experienced.

I congratulate Kerry Life Education Limited which carried out an excellent seminar, Getting a Grip 2006, in Killarney last Friday. The Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Tim O'Malley, attended and raised the problem of over-the-counter drugs in addition to hard drugs. Such drugs are often seen as headache tablets and the like but are used to such an extent that they have an effect on people's mental and physical health. Deputy Lynch mentioned prescribed drugs and many people taking such drugs are consequently suffering greatly.

Many of those at the seminar raised the issue of alcohol. In Ireland we do not pay as much attention to addiction to the drug that is alcohol as in other countries. There is a great need to consider the recommendations of the strategic task force on alcohol which issued its second report in September 2004. If the price of a drug is increased demand for that drug is affected. With the upcoming budget in mind, we must consider increasing the price of alcoholic beverages to have a substantial effect on demand, particularly among young people. We must examine the manner in which we, as parents and role models, behave in terms of alcohol so that, in future, young people can change how alcohol is approached.

Regarding poverty, the State must continue to put significant funds into the local drugs task forces, the youth facilities services programme and the various emerging funds such as the premises initiatives. Merchant's Quay Ireland has provided some important statistics. Over 75% of drug users in treatment left school before they were 16 years old. This presents a challenge to ensure such children return to the education system, not necessarily through the standard schooling process but through special schools and through the endeavour of many hard pressed community workers. The children may be reluctant to return to the education system and the task of bringing them on stream is difficult and trying. I commend the people working with these children.

Some 74% of all drug users are unemployed. The link between poverty, social exclusion and drug use has been recognised both in Ireland and abroad. The problem of drug use is particularly prevalent in areas with high levels of poverty, long-term unemployment, poor or insecure housing, early school leaving and crime and urban neglect. I often examine the statistics detailing where children who go to university have come from. Very few from Dublin 8, Dublin 10 and Dublin 12 go on to University College Dublin. Thankfully, there are post-leaving certificate courses which can act as a stepping stone. Ultimately, these children do not go on to third level education because people living at such addresses do not receive the requisite amount or type of education to come through.

There is still much work to be done on the drugs issue. The Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Noel Ahern, last night, and the Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Brian Lenihan, tonight, clarified what their respective Departments are doing to deal with this issue. Overall, there is a huge job to do and we are only getting started. We must continue to work hard to try to have a substantial effect in the forthcoming years. Combating drugs is a major battle and we can never say it has been won.

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