Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

I thank the Chair for the opportunity to raise the concerns of the community in Cork about the escalating use of heroin. There has been some very high profile media coverage of the problem in recent days. However, it is an issue of which those of us who read the local press, discuss the matter with the Garda and speak to local health professionals have been aware for quite some time. The list of those seeking methadone treatment is growing.

Heroin use is growing in the Cork area and there is a fear that it will attract the violence associated with that drug. There has been a recorded increase in drug related burglaries in the Cork area. The Garda set up a dedicated heroin unit in Cork in 2006 in response to the growing problem. The number of heroin detections in 2004 was four but last year that number rose to 159, a fortyfold increase. There were six heroin related deaths in 2007, eight in 2008 and, alarmingly and tragically for the families of those involved, there have been four such deaths in the past five weeks.

There has been a very large increase in the number of addicts seeking treatment, with more than 100 people treated in 2008. It is estimated there are 150 people on the waiting list for methadone treatment in Arbour House, which I visited recently along with the Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy John Curran, when he opened the refurbished facility. The Minister of State will be well aware of the excellent service provided by health professionals in the treatment centre. Certain people must wait for more than one year for methadone treatment and during that year those addicts will undoubtedly continue to use the drug, to put their health at risk and continue to place stress on their families as they struggle to find the estimated €100 to €300 per day necessary to feed the habit.

A consultant in emergency medicine in Cork University Hospital has warned of an increasing number of heroin and methadone cases. He also warned the problem will escalate and that by this time next year Cork will have a serious heroin problem. All the signs, evidence and figures are available. We do not wish to see such a drug problem develop with all the negative social consequences it would entail.

All of this takes place against a background of a cut in the budget of the local drugs task force of 20%. Is there a central solution to such a problem? Having to wait for treatment for more than one year is unacceptable, and it is also unacceptable that there is only one doctor available for those in need of methadone treatment. The Garda and the local drugs task force must be involved along with health professionals.

I am conscious that this is taking place in the context of the very gloomy economic background against which we live at present. However, the long-term social consequences, havoc and devastation that this drug can wreak on communities will undoubtedly result in a much higher financial cost and social cost and this must be factored into today's thinking. All the warnings are available. I have outlined them and they have been heard loud and clear by communities in Cork. I call on the Minister to do what he can to support the health professionals, the Garda and those working on the ground to ensure the drug use does not escalate to epidemic proportions as predicted.

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