Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

Supply reduction is one of the cornerstones of the national drugs strategy and the operations of the Garda Síochána are central in this regard. In 2005, a total of 1,166 people were prosecuted for drug offences in County Cork. This represented a significant increase on the 867 prosecuted in 2004. I welcome the recent break up of a cocaine distribution operation in Cork and I congratulate the Garda on its efforts. Each such success, especially one of the scale involved in Cork, is significant in the overall effort against the misuse of drugs. However, the operation illustrates the level of the danger posed by cocaine and given the global nature of the drugs problem, the Garda is very aware that there is always a risk of others trying to fill any gap in the market.

While I am confident that the problem of cocaine use is being addressed through the implementation of the actions in the national drugs strategy, I also recognised the need for an overview of the emerging threat from cocaine. In September, I received a joint briefing paper from the National Advisory Committee on Drugs and the national drugs strategy team. I am currently awaiting responses from the relevant agencies and Departments on how the recommendations of the briefing paper might be addressed. It is envisaged the matter will be followed up further at the December meeting of the interdepartmental group on drugs.

The main focus of the national drugs strategy in respect of the education sector is on preventative strategies targeting the primary and secondary levels, as well as the informal education sector, including youth services. Arising therefrom, all schools now have substance misuse prevention programmes included in their curricula. In addition, the national drugs awareness campaign focused specifically on cocaine use in one of its initiatives. That campaign, targeted at the 18 to 35 year old age group, sought to dispel the image among some that cocaine is a clean and safe drug with few detrimental consequences.

Other measures taken include: support for six cocaine-specific projects under the emerging needs fund, one of which is located in Cork and was allocated €110,000 to focus on the provision of direct community-based services for cocaine-users; and the launch last year of four pilot cocaine treatment projects with funding of almost €400,000 to examine different methods of treatment for cocaine use, as well as a training initiative focusing on front-line workers.

The problems associated with cocaine use are not being underestimated and I believe that progress is being made in that regard. I will continue to respond in a flexible and focused way as the situation evolves.

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