Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As I already said in my reply to the Deputy, one of the actions as part of the new strategy focuses directly on Kildare as well as a number of other areas as regards increasing the service on the ground. One of the problems that has arisen over the past couple of months is getting other tier 1 and tier 2 doctors to participate in methadone distribution and other services.

I can only guarantee that, through the new strategy, we will be looking at all of the different areas, particularly Kildare, which I guarantee the Deputy is on the list. If he has relevant information regarding people who are waiting 18 months, I would like to see that information because I need to follow it up. Nothing has come across my desk since I have been given this job to suggest people are waiting that long. I could understand a matter of weeks or maybe three months but I have seen nothing longer. If the Deputy provides the information, I will look into it in the next couple of days and come back to him personally through my office.

As I have explained, there are a number of people in the services in Kildare. I know we are facing challenges on the ground, given the growing number of people, particularly younger people, who are dabbling in very harmful drugs that not only alter their mind but can potentially cause death. I will talk to Deputy O'Rourke about that. I would like to know about those people he says are waiting 18 months for a service because that should not be the cause. I will do my best to try to intervene in the matter in the next couple of weeks.

The service the Deputy raises is very much needed, and I do not deny that. A large sum of money is going into task forces throughout the country to deal with people at a local level. The Deputy is correct that services on the ground need to be more focused, particularly around centres that people can access, and not just during the day. We need to look at services for young people during the evening, when the potential for them to take illegal drugs is greater. The Deputy can come back to me on this.

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