John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)

Expenditure in this area is considerable at €275 million. As I stated in reply to earlier questions, the budgetary position for next year is not known. However, it is important that these considerable resources are spent in a co-ordinated way to ensure we are achieving maximum output and delivering effective services to the groups that need them. If we believe we can make a substantial change in addressing the drugs issue, we can have all the treatment we want and seizures by the Garda but the attitude and behaviour of people ranging from children at risk, school children to adults who talk about soft drugs and recreational drugs must change. Prevention is the area where we will make the most significant change in the strategy.

The Deputy asked about the involvement of community activists. The strategy builds on community involvement through the drug task forces and, in particular, the establishment of policing fora, which provide access for community representatives. Local task forces and the new established office of the Minister for drugs have community representatives on the drug advisory group. We recognise the role community groups have to play and they have been accommodated throughout the development of the strategy.

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