Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

We have held a number of discussions with the Garda, medical professionals and those with ideas concerning the matter of mandatory drug testing. It can only be done on a voluntary basis in the workplace and cannot be applied compulsorily.

It is disturbing that a large proportion of those tested as part of the drink driving campaign have been found to have substances other than alcohol in their bloodstreams. To answer the Deputy's question simply, we are working on the problem, but we are not unique. Other jurisdictions such as Australia have not satisfactorily mastered mandatory testing, although there are several provinces in Australia that are further ahead than others.

Local-based campaigns for schools are proving to be extremely successful. Deputy Catherine Byrne will know that last Saturday morning the Ballyfermot youths' service, under the aegis of the local drugs taskforce, launched a very good information campaign targeting transition year students. Up to 120 transition year students met at a nightclub at 10 o'clock in the morning on the fringe of the Dublin South-Central constituency. They were talking about the programmes devised by them on heightening the awareness of alcohol and drug misuse. I believe the two, alcohol and drug misuse, must be aligned.

Members referred to a campaign in Blanchardstown. A DVD was made by a group in Drogheda, which I have not seen but I believe is very effective. I am in discussions with the Irish Examiner newspaper about getting its supplement distributed more widely to schools and other outlets. We need to heighten awareness of drug misuse.

One of the best campaigns I have seen is in County Kerry. Deputy Deenihan knows of the Kerry education for life project. It has two mobile units that travel to schools in the county under the aegis of the regional drugs taskforce. Children as young as four years of age are shown how to understand what happens to their system when one takes tea, coffee or crisps. It works up along to show what happens to one's system when one takes cannabis, cocaine and heroin. The campaign, borrowed from a UK idea, is having much success. Other campaigns are potentially worthwhile such as those in Crumlin and Dublin inner city groups.

At a more formal level, we are in discussions on how to target an information and awareness campaign that will hit the upper second level age group to the 35 year old group. I have been examining using newer media such as Bebo and Facebook as a way of getting through to this age group. Focus groups are working on the content and the direction of this campaign, which will be coming to fruition soon. It needs to be done sooner than later.

As Deputy Wall stated, coming up to Christmas is a good time to highlight the dangers of drugs. If ever there was a lesson to be learned, it is unfortunately the one learned from the ingestion of cocaine at a recent party in Waterford. Unfortunately, that could have happened in any village, town or city. It is to be hoped that it will be a wake-up call.

From the published Estimates, funds will be provided for the roll-out of the strategy. We are working with other Departments in getting additional resources to implement the drug rehabilitation report. It contains 13 recommendations, including the provision of additional detox beds, accommodation, education and training of frontline workers.

It has been suggested that those services available in Dublin need to be rolled out to the rest of the country. I say "Amen" to that. Every community needs to take ownership and responsibility of the problem. Dublin-based Members will recall how difficult it was to get needle exchange and methadone maintenance programmes developed in Dublin. I suspect the same challenges will be posed in communities where there is already a reluctance to allow such programmes be developed.

On Tuesday I visited in Cork where, under the aegis of the HSE, a centre of excellence is proposed to be built. It will incorporate all services such as needle exchange, methadone maintenance programmes, counselling, psychological and psychiatric support in the one centre in the Arbour House development. Every community needs its own residential and day treatment centres so a continuum of care is in place. Waiting lists in many Dublin centres, such as those in Ballyfermot and Clondalkin, are building up because of people presenting from other parts of the country.

I am slow to be drawn on the Justine Delaney Wilson issue. I have already stated my views on this. Neither the book nor the programme made a contribution to helping address the issues surrounding cocaine. If anything, it simply glamorised it. As to whether the Government will take any action on it, I am awaiting the outcome of the RTE investigation to see what it feels its response ought to be. Whether any action will be contemplated after that, we will await that development.

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