John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)

I am highly aware that involvement in sport can be a key factor in helping to prevent young people from becoming involved in problem drug taking. In this context and because of the other health and well-being benefits involved, I wholeheartedly support participation in sport.

Under the current drugs strategy, a number of initiatives were developed on a local basis to promote sport among young people. In addition, 14 of what are termed "Football in the Community" development officers are employed under the young people's facilities and services fund, ten of whom are in Dublin and four in Limerick. Such initiatives are likely to continue under the new drugs strategy.

Neither my officials nor I have had direct meetings with national sporting organisations to discuss the proposals for the new strategy. However, the steering group set up to develop proposals in this regard undertook an extensive consultation process in mid-2008 and I personally participated in many of the meetings involved. This process included 15 public consultation meetings nationwide, as well as meetings with relevant Departments and agencies, key sectoral representatives and organisations and targeted focus groups. Submissions in writing also were received from the public and various other bodies, including the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism, which submitted views that emphasised the importance of sport.

I also should mention in this context that the national co-ordinator of the GAA's alcohol and substance abuse prevention programme was a member of the steering group. However, his membership was as a representative of the voluntary sector rather than as a direct sports-focused participant. The steering group recognised the capacity of sports organisations to positively affect and influence the attitudes and behaviour of many people, particularly children and young adults. This is being achieved through both the provision of diversionary sport and recreational activities and the spread of health, prevention and awareness messages in regard to problem drug and alcohol use.

The group was highly conscious of the opportunity to build on the valuable prevention work being done by the various sports organisations, both at a broad level and through individual volunteers. In this context, the new strategy proposes the putting in place of substance misuse policies and the development of a brief interventions approach, where appropriate, in youth, sport and community organisations. In that regard, it is important to acknowledge that some organisations, such as the GAA, already have in place substance misuse policies. I believe that sport will continue to play a very positive part in our efforts to tackle problem drug use in our society over the lifetime of the new strategy.

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