Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

I am glad we are discussing issues relating to young people, but I question the value of general statements on such a broad topic, as they do not challenge the Government to do something on the issues raised. In this debate we have statements on alcohol related harm, the prevention of drug misuse, combating obesity, promoting healthier lifestyles, the provision of sports facilities, mental health awareness, sexual health awareness, youth work, youth justice and so on. We could have a three or four hour debate on any one of those issues.

It is out of concern that we call on the Government to set targets that will challenge us to try to find solutions to many of the problems and difficulties for young people. It is for that reason that Fine Gael has tabled an amendment to the motion. Our amendment is raised in a proactive manner to point out clearly that we are not happy just to chat here about issues that affect young people. We want the Government to set ambitious targets and will support achieving those targets in areas of real concern.

I wish to concentrate on two specific issues that affect young people. The first concerns a matter currently prominent in the media, namely, drug abuse. The headline in the Evening Echo in Cork today reads: "Cork heroin seizures are up by 250%". The chief superintendent in Cork has said needles are now being found on the streets of Cork city. While heroin has been a problem in Cork for a number of years, people were, predominantly, smoking it. Now, however, they are starting to inject it.

Is it not time we admitted that most of the objectives of the national drugs strategy entitled, Building on Experience, which began in 2001 have failed? There has been some positive progress in terms of treatment and we have some fantastic people working in organisations and schemes funded under the strategy. However, the overall measure of the strategy should be whether more or fewer people are using illegal, harmful drugs than in 2001. The fact is that more people have a drugs problem now than last year when the number had increased on that for the previous year and so on back to the start of the strategy.

Cocaine and heroin which were predominantly a Dublin problem when the national drugs strategy began are now a national problem. I attended the launch of the strategy when there was much genuine interest and support for what the Government was trying to do. We were promised we would have an annual review of the strategy, but that has not happened. We do not have performance indicators to demonstrate whether it is working because the news would be too bad if we did.

We need to take a more scientific approach towards what we are trying to achieve and how we will get there. Funding treatment programmes is important and we must ensure they are available for everyone who seeks help for an addiction problem, regardless of age, but that is not enough. On the issue of drug abuse, we must target areas, whether it is in prisons, schools, universities or among homeless people on the streets. The reality is that the Government is failing in its responsibility to combat drug misuse and addiction. Reports in the media, reliable and unreliable, have reminded us of this in recent weeks. In this regard, the supplement to the Irish Examiner yesterday made gruesome reading.

Community courts are a proactive way of looking in a new way at anti-social behaviour. I urge the Minister of State to consider this concept which was outlined in detail in a recent National Crime Council report.

See this speech in context