Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

In the programme for Government, there is a promise to continue to resource harm reduction education awareness programmes to increase awareness of the risks associated with drug use and the contribution of drugs to criminality. I have worked in that area for the past 20 years and there has been a massive increase in drug use and criminality. The people involved are younger and younger. Will the Taoiseach indicate if there will be a structured link between schools and local youth drug services? There is no such link at the moment. Arrangements are ad hoc and a matter for individual principals and schools. They need to be more structured.

Will the community sector be involved in a public awareness programme? We, the people who are involved in tackling drugs and crime in the community, are on the ground. We understand what is happening and when it is happening.

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