Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)

I accept that. I am not giving out. I am saying it is grand, but apart from the question and answer session it would be useful if the Minister of State could call together those who are interested to have a round table discussion on this area in order that we can offer ideas and solutions. In his speech, the Minister of State mentioned he would welcome any input from us and that he is willing to work with us. I believe the Government wants to work with us. The other day we had a very good round table discussion with Deputies of all parties about the future of transport in Dublin. It was very informative. We can do the same with this issue, not necessarily in committees or in the Dáil Chamber, but where those who are interested can meet and work together. The Minister of State, Deputy Pat Carey, served on a useful committee that related to child care where he was an effective participant. I accept there are benefits in that approach.

This is part of the review of the previous drugs strategy. While that strategy has done much work in terms of organisation and preparation, it did not achieve a reduction in the level of drugs consumption or succeed in protecting people from drugs. It has helped certain people but the number of people involved in drugs has increased, especially in terms of cocaine use. Reports show that drug use has increased sevenfold or eightfold. It was revealed in a committee that over 300,000 people between the ages of 16 and 25 admitted to using cannabis. We must face the fact that the number of people using drugs has increased. Any review should acknowledge that but the review was trying to be too nice. While we gained, we have not gained enough.

The future strategy must have solid targets in areas in which we want to achieve so as to reduce the amount of drugs in which people dabble. It is important the future strategy has targets and proper review limits. A review that takes place five years after the strategy has been put in place and does not get discussed on the floor of the Dáil for a further two and a half years is not very effective. We had a useful discussion of this in committee but it would not have been any harm to have had a debate in the Chamber and get the message across to the wider public.

I will send in writing to the Minister of State, Deputy Pat Carey, specific issues I have not had time to raise. We must target our message at parents. They need to realise we can solve the drugs problem. They do not believe this and until the problem knocks on their door they do not get involved. We need to get parents fully behind this campaign and put pressure on State agencies to tackle this problem. Leadership is required in order to encourage people and convince them we can solve the problem. The perception is that politicians cannot solve problems or get anything done. I believe we can achieve something but we need to get everybody involved, especially parents.

Local drugs task forces have worked well in some areas of Dublin but the regional drugs task forces were not encouraged enough in the early years. It was almost four or five years before most of the regional drugs task forces presented us with a plan of what they wanted to do. I blame the Department for not pushing the agenda and making sure these plans were produced earlier. They are in place now and money has been allocated in recent years. The Minister of State referred to the allocation of €14 million. We need to drive the drugs task forces because they can provide solutions. It is important to share the experiences in this area nationally and internationally with the task forces and ensure they get results. We should not be happy that people are just discussing the problem or handing out cheques to certain groups, we should demand results and set targets for the drugs task forces to achieve.

I spoke extensively in the past about pilot schemes to tackle drug use. We do not need pilot schemes. We know what works here and what has worked in other countries. Too much time on pilot schemes is spent adding figures and fixing reports for the following year to ensure funding is guaranteed. We should allocate money to different projects and let them get on with it. We should not be worried about getting results. If we get it wrong we will just try some other scheme. We should not tie up projects with too much red tape. The Minister of State referred to youth groups and youth centres where progress is being achieved. I hope every town and village will soon have top class youth centres and facilities. A great deal of red tape gets in the way of running youth centres. It takes a lot of time and effort to draw down money. We should try to fast-track this system and get money to where it is needed. It is all very well announcing on budget day that millions of euro are being allocated to certain projects but we want to get it spent where it is needed in helping those who are affected.

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