Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)

The Minister said there is a difficult time ahead for everybody, given the funding situation. I have a question regarding the cut of 11% in the drugs initiative programme. This morning, a spokesperson for Ballyfermot youth centre spoke on a radio programme about the project it runs for young children, in particular teenagers in school. It is a six-week programme called "can you hack it" which deals with addiction to cocaine, hash, alcohol and other drugs. Next year it will have to close the project because its funding through the drugs initiative has been cut. If there was ever a time when we needed to educate young people here about drugs it is now.

I ask the Minister to speak to the people in Ballyfermot youth club and see if there is any way this project, which has done wonders for young people in the area in terms of keeping them out of a problem which is rife throughout communities, can be kept in place. The problem will be solved through education, not through other measures. If we are to stop the scourge of drugs in this country, we have to start by educating young people. It does not need to be done through schools; it can be done in communities in the way it is being done here, which is the correct way to go.

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