Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

I completely agree with Deputy Wall. The practice in most recovery programmes now is that families are involved in the entire process from the time the misuser engages with the service right through the continuum of care. The Deputy probably is aware of the family support network, of which there are 150 to 180 units in different parts of the country that carry out very good work. Last Friday I visited Limerick and sat in on a training programme that was being carried out there by the Strengthening Families programme, which is an American-based programme from the University of Utah. It is being rolled out in 18 different counties, mainly through the national youth organisations that are partially funded by the Department. I also am anxious to engage with the sports bodies. As the Deputy probably is aware, some sports development offices are co-funded by the Department and local authorities, as well as by the sports bodies, which are carrying out extremely good work in the preventative area. For example, last Thursday I launched what I consider to be an extremely effective campaign by Galway United Football Club called Give Drugs the Boot. Unfortunately, the club appears to have given the manager the boot the next day.

See this speech in context