Joe Behan (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

I join Members on all sides of the House in welcoming the opportunity to take part in this debate on an issue of very significant importance for people from all walks of life throughout the country. I contrast the tone of this debate with that experienced in the health service debate over the past two days. This debate has not been swayed by party politics and the views expressed have been genuine, particularly by people such as Deputy Catherine Byrne, who is involved with community work and knows what she is speaking about in this area. I hope the comments will feed into a very practical review of the national drugs strategy.

I congratulate the Minister of State, Deputy Pat Carey, on his appointment as Minister of State with special responsibility for this area. I know from people working on the ground that they appreciate his level of engagement and work in this area. As a colleague in Fianna Fáil, I am very impressed with his grasp of detail and his serious intention to try to bring about a radical and meaningful review of the drugs strategy. I hope an effective strategy will be drawn up for the years from 2009 to 2016.

The Minister of State acknowledged the cross-party contribution to this area going back many years. If I am not mistaken, Deputy Pat Rabbitte was the first Minister of State with responsibility for the drugs strategy. He set the ball rolling quite effectively and I pay tribute to all Ministers and Ministers of State involved since then.

When I knew I would speak in this debate I conversed with some people involved in the area in my home town of Bray. I appreciate the work of people in a particular group in my home parish called The Get Along Gang. This is made up of a number of parents who got together in 1995 to establish a support network for parents and families of people involved in drug addiction. They have stayed the course for the past 12 years despite initially having no help from anybody. The group is now engaged with the HSE, which is welcome.

An issue they have outlined to me which I will highlight for the Minister's attention is family support, particularly increased funding for the family support network. People involved in this do much good work in trying to ensure families are supported, tackling the matter of a son or daughter who is a drug addict and helping families to rehabilitate that son or daughter. In his speech the Minister of State said that €150,000 will be given to the family support network to continue the work. I welcome the funding and hope the amount will be increased in time to come.

In Bray and other parts of the country, cocaine is becoming a major scourge, with some people arguing it is almost out of control. It is said it affects only the higher income groups but in reality it affects all classes. I know the Minister of State is aware of this and I am confident he will address it in the new strategy.

I welcome the Minister of State's reference to alcohol abuse. We cannot discuss drug addiction and abuse without remembering alcohol and the damaging role it has played in society over many years, particularly with regard to social problems and the devastation it can cause for families and the person who is addicted to alcohol. If we are to have a meaningful strategy, it is important alcohol abuse is linked to drug abuse and forms an integral part of future action.

The Minister, Deputy Ó Cuív, made a very valuable contribution, as he always does in debates such as this. He has a genuine commitment to community affairs and solving these problems. As I come from an area with a successful RAPID programme, I welcome and endorse the Minister's view that RAPID should have a minimum of a 20-year timeframe to be effective and bring about meaningful social change. I am glad he made the comment in the House.

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