John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy is right. At the public consultation meetings, the average number present was about 100, although I do not have the precise figures. Many of those attending obviously had an interest. They were either involved in providing the services, had family links or there was an area of particular interest for them. However, the process went further than just public consultation. We met with all the other providers, statutory and otherwise, and that did not arise as an issue. If it was to be on a county by county basis, as has been suggested, there would be many meetings in some and perhaps very little delivery of service. At this time, it is felt that the regional structures, which are relatively new, are bedding in and they allow for local sub-committees to operate on a county by county basis under the remit of a regional structure. In the case of Limerick, for example, there is a specific sub-committee for that particular area. I do not believe we should restrict the activities of the regional task forces. They can organise internally as they see fit, at county by county sub-committee level, but no proposal to establish independent local drugs task forces, as suggested, has arisen during the consultation and is not being considered at this stage.

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