Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

In the past seven or eight years, we devised a national drugs strategy. We invested the necessary resources, people and facilities in the strategy. Approximately 500 projects have been funded under the young people's facilities and services scheme, which has been in place for ten years. Hundreds of youth workers and outreach workers are dealing with this issue. Regional drugs teams are in place. There is a good nucleus of people involved in the prevention of drug abuse and in helping people get away from drugs and staying off them. We invested money in sport, recreation and addiction counselling throughout the country. We have a good basis that has been built up over a number of years with a significant number of people involved.

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