Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)

My information is that the community sector was represented by Ms Joan Byrne of SAOL, with an alternate being Mr. Daithí Doolan of Citywide, and by Ms Teresa Weafer of the Ringsend and District Response to Drugs. The voluntary sector was represented by Mr. Tony Geoghegan from the Merchants Quay Project. That said, I cannot understand why on an initiative dating back as far as 2004 there is still no clarity on the way in which it operates. While the indication given to me seems to suggest matters have been sorted out, it is also suggested a pilot programme is running. To my mind, that does not add up.

I am not in a position to answer the Deputies' questions now, nor do I have specific information on CASPr. I will undertake to examine the position, specifically on CASPr, and also to seek clarity on this initiative which has been established for so long that it should be operating smoothly at this stage. If there are 1,000 places available for recovering drug users, I want to see them used fully. I will obtain further information and come back to the Deputies. I again thank them for raising the issue.

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