Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

The projects are having an impact. One of the best projects I have seen in recent times is the transition year project in the Deputy's area which is run in conjunction with the Ballyfermot youth service and local schools and which relates to raising awareness of drugs and alcohol misuse. The Deputy is well aware of Base and other projects in Ballyfermot, Inchicore and the south inner city and the impact they are having. One of our difficulties is that because there is a greater range of services available, more people are presenting in order to make use of them. This is a good sign of the effectiveness of these projects. It will be a long time before there is an entirely adequate response to many of the challenges we face.

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