Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Government is already very serious about drugs, which is why we are trying to break this enormous challenge into its component parts, including providing more services for homeless people who are affected by addiction, putting in place injection centres for people to inject safely rather than potentially poisoning themselves with overdoses or with dirty needles. These are difficult challenges the Government is determined to take on. We are also providing extra healthcare drug-treatment opportunities for people trying to wean themselves off addiction. That is what we are doing at that end of the spectrum.

On the recreational side, which in some ways is an inappropriate description of drug use in night clubs, parties, concerts and so on, we have put many extra resources into An Garda Síochána in this area. The Garda has implemented the national drugs strategy training programme for members of the force working in drug units within communities.

They have trained 60 extra Garda members since the programme commenced, which only commenced last year. From a policing perspective and from an awareness, health and addiction management perspective we are putting significant resources into the different elements of this problem, which are complex.

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