Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

Tá mé sásta go bhfuil díospóireacht againn inniu faoin straitéis náisiúnta drugaí. When this issue was raised for debate last week, I was happy to encourage the Dáil to consider the subject. A number of important issues arise in terms of the use of illegal drugs in society which need to be addressed. In addition, I wish to set out the Government's strategy for dealing with this issue. All the elected representatives from my constituency are involved in this debate. Deputy Gregory and Deputy Costello are due to speak and Deputy Cyprian Brady has already spoken. We have all been dealing with this issue in our political lives, as has the Acting Chairman, Deputy O'Connor, in his constituency for the past quarter of a century. We have always taken a keen interest in this issue.

The impetus for raising this issue was the excellent supplement produced by the Irish Examiner. Its research and informative guide led to a focus on this matter. I congratulate the newspaper which I believe has further plans in this regard. It is most commendable of a national newspaper to carry out that task.

The Government is deeply committed to tackling this ever-evolving challenge. We have been working hard in recent years to bring about real changes through a multifaceted approach to education, crime prevention and detection and rehabilitation. I have had the honour of working with the Minister of State, Deputy Pat Carey, my brother, the Minister of State, Deputy Noel Ahern, and former Deputy, Chris Flood, a colleague of Deputy O'Connor, in the past ten years. I have had the opportunity of chairing the Cabinet committee on social inclusion which has met on a regular basis, at least monthly but sometimes more often, where we have been dealing with this issue. I accept what Deputies have said; this issue is challenging and difficult for all of us.

This week is just another week but the recent incident in Waterford shocked many. Sadly, this type of event is becoming too familiar in towns and cities. I accept that it is a problem in cities, towns and even villages throughout the country.

I welcome the opportunity today to highlight, particularly for younger adults and young people, the health risks of using illegal drugs. Some people try illegal drugs once or twice thinking that simply experimenting has no significant consequences and that they will escape serious injury. Everybody can understand somebody making that attempt and not understanding what they are getting into. Young people will always try things out of a spirit of adventure but in this case we must warn them and guard them from the devastating effects. It is not the case that one can just try them once or twice. The physical and mental health risks are so high that an experiment need only go wrong once for serious, and sometimes fatal, consequences to arise for the drug misuser, their families, friends and members of the wider community.

Recently, there has been an increased incidence of young people using cocaine. There are extremely high risks associated with cocaine use. Serious physical and mental health problems can arise. It is particularly dangerous when combined with alcohol, as we have seen recently, and other substances. I have always maintained that the cornerstone of our efforts to tackle the drug problem must be the maxim that prevention is better than cure. In this regard, education and awareness are crucial to combating the menace of drug abuse. Deputy Pat Carey, with his long experience as a community activist and his long teaching career, is aware of this. His advice and statements on the issue not only in his current capacity, but also over the years, have been important.

There have been a number of major drug awareness programmes organised over the past number of years. Some have been targeted at both parents and younger people. Some run through the local drugs task forces have been focused directly on people in their own local areas. These all have an important role in providing information to people about illegal drugs and in getting the message across about the serious health risks. The health promotion unit of the HSE is currently working on a new targeted and long-term awareness programme. Many of the programmes in the past 20 years or so have been very useful in keeping people off drugs and on the straight and narrow. Of course, not everybody has been kept away from drugs but that does not mean that the programmes have not been extremely beneficial in the education system and in communities. Community activists and organisations in my constituencies and others have been funded and do a very good job. They have saved many people over the years.

The Government's strategy as outlined in the National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008, augmented by the joint national advisory committee on drugs, the national drugs strategy team's report on cocaine and the report of the working group on drug rehabilitation, is the correct one. The national drugs strategy, which was launched by the then Minister of State, former Deputy Eoin Ryan, will be reviewed over the next year with a view to putting in place a strategy to cover the period from 2009 to 2016. This is important, as are debates such as this and other consultations taking place in communities throughout the country.

It is important to acknowledge that there have been significant achievements under the current national drugs strategy. There is now either a regional drugs task force — which were set up in 2005 — or a local drugs task force — these were set up in 1997 — covering all areas of the country. The level of drugs seizures by the Garda and the customs service of the Revenue Commissioners have been well in excess of the strategy targets. I congratulate the Garda on its success. However, gardaí face daily challenges in tackling the sale of illegal drugs in the State by the highly organised criminal gangs who now confront them.

The Government has also been engaged with those involved in service-response development at a more strategic level — from drug task forces at local and regional level to nationally based organisations, such as the Health Service Executive, the Garda and the Irish Prison Service. I have had the opportunity of listening to their presentations and seeing the agency reports in my capacity as chairman of the committee on social inclusion. For the past ten years, the Government has invested in approximately 450 projects under the local drugs task force plans. Those plans are mainly in force in city areas; there are not yet as many throughout the country. Many of those plans provide tremendous community facilities. They are costly but very beneficial.

I commend the dedication and commitment of the people involved in the development and delivery of services under the aegis of the national drugs strategy. These services are having a meaningful impact on the lives of the people availing of them, be they problem drug users, their families or the local communities, within which many of the services are set. The strategy has been complemented by the RAPID programme tackling urban disadvantage and by the community services programme.

Drug treatment and rehabilitation services are being delivered primarily through the Health Service Executive. These treatments include addiction counselling, detoxification programmes and methadone treatment programmes. The programmes have advanced a great deal. Not many years ago we had great difficulty trying to sell them and explaining their benefits to people. However, understanding has now moved to a different level. Through the HSE there was an allocation of €85.05 million in 2006 directly attributable to drugs programmes. Rehabilitation has been included as a fifth pillar of the national drugs strategy. This need was identified in 2005.

In addition to highlighting the serious health risks from illegal drugs, the Government recognises the importance of diverting young people from drug misuse now and in the future by supporting their involvement in other activities, hobbies and in sports. In the long run, the best way to keep young people away from drugs is by providing other outlets to them. We are providing facilities and services for the most "at risk" young people through the young people's facilities and services fund in particular. Almost 500 facilities and services projects are being delivered through the fund, including the employment of 228 youth and outreach workers and 27 sports development officers, to divert young people away from drug misuse. This funding supports sports facilities, youth cafés and recreational activities for young people.

It is important to remember that illegal drug use is a global issue and so our efforts to tackle it in Ireland must be seen in that context. Significant progress has been made internationally in reducing the supply of drugs and in providing treatment facilities. Needless to say, however, no country has succeeded in coming to terms with all dimensions of the problem. We will continue to facilitate and support agreed international responses while pursuing our own goals through the implementation of the various actions contained in the current national drugs strategy.

I wish to conclude by reiterating my point on the health risks associated with illegal drugs. They are illegal because they are toxic; illegal drugs are a serious health risk and must remain illegal for that reason. The Government can only do so much. Individual citizens must see that there are serious physical and mental health risks attached to using illegal drugs. Our people also need to see the links to criminal activity associated with what is perceived as recreational drug use or weekend drug use. I acknowledge that much remains to be done to tackle the problem but I equally believe that progress is being made through the Government's national drugs strategy.

I commend the work of the Irish Examiner in highlighting the problem and supporting efforts to tackle it. I was anxious to participate in this debate today to support the Minister of State, Deputy Pat Carey, and his officials in their efforts on this programme. We must continue to build on the excellent work that is being done by communities the length and breadth of this country. Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Chomhairle.

See this speech in context