Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)

I thank the Minister of State for his reply, from which I am to understand that no extension of the drugs task forces is intended in the new national drugs strategy. Initially, the task forces were set up in areas where there was a prevalence of heroin misuse. Unfortunately, hard drugs have spread across the country. A viewpoint exists in certain counties at least that this requires a much more intensive approach and that the regional structures are too large. Something is needed that reaches out more effectively to towns and villages outside the large urban areas.

I take the Minister of State's point that this was not raised to any great extent at the consultative meetings. However, the trends are very worrying. Does he agree that the structure that currently exists for dealing with reductions in supply and, more importantly, demand is just not adequate and we are losing the battle?

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