Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As I said, I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan. Like my colleagues, I wish him well. I thank Deputies Lahart, Murphy, Crowe, Duffy and Ward for raising this issue. I welcome this opportunity to update the House on the issue of crack cocaine in Tallaght, as highlighted in the report published by the Tallaght Drug and Alcohol Task Force. In response to Deputy Murphy, I have listened to the report on "Morning Ireland". I listened to it again this morning and I also have sight of the task force report. While I was shocked and horrified, at the same time, I was aware of what crack cocaine is doing to the Deputies' communities.

The focus of cocaine and crack cocaine as a drug is becoming more prevalent in Ireland. The latest data from the national drug treatment report system for the seven-year period from 2014 to 2020 found an increase of almost 400% in crack cocaine cases. Cases treated for crack cocaine as the main problem drug accounted for 16% of all cocaine treatment last year. Crack cocaine use is a multidimensional problem that reflects social drug use in disadvantaged communities, linked to unemployment, poverty and social exclusion. It is also an intergenerational issue, as some families and children are caught in a cycle of parental drug use, addiction, trauma and hidden harm. The intergenerational piece was what I found the most upsetting in yesterday's report.

Drug use in disadvantaged communities, such as Tallaght, requires interagency recourse, involving An Garda Síochána, South Dublin Country Council, South Dublin County Partnership, the HSE, the education and training board, the Tallaght Drug and Alcohol Task Force and community organisations. The whole-of-government approach is the basis for the national drugs strategy. The supply of illegal drugs, such as crack cocaine, and the existence of drug-related intimidation are matters for An Garda Síochána. I am aware that in July, An Garda Síochána commenced Operation Tara to tackle street-level drug dealing. This vital work is having significant success in disrupting drug trafficking and the supply of illicit drugs by organised crime groups, including the seizure by An Garda in September of more than €100,000 in cocaine and MDMA in Tallaght.

In response to the increase in crack cocaine use, the HSE launched harm reduction campaigns entitled Cocaine - Reduce the Harms, and Crack - Reduce the Harms. These campaigns provided up-to-date evidence-based information on cocaine. The HSE drug and alcohol helpline and drugs.ieare also available to provide advice and referral to specialist services. The HSE is responsible for the provision of drug and alcohol services in Tallaght and surrounding areas. It invests €1.7 million in Tallaght drug treatment centres. It also provides outreach services and youth counselling services in the area. The HSE provides €1.08 million to eight section 39 drug and alcohol services in the Tallaght area, two of which operate crack cocaine projects in Jobstown and Killinarden. It also provided the New Hope Residential Centre service with once-off funding of €50,000 in 2021.

In addition, the Department of Health provides funding of €336,000 per annum to youth-related projects in Tallaght, under the auspices of the Tallaght Drug and Alcohol Task Force.Further funding of €190,000 was provided in 2019 to the Tallaght and Ballyfermot task forces for an initiative to support women affected by drug and alcohol use to access appropriate treatment services. The Department of Health recently hosted a webinar to discuss the research findings on this topic.

The Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, recently met with a representative of the South Dublin County Partnership, which works closely with the Tallaght task force. He informed the Minister of State that the Department of Rural and Community Development has provided funding for the employment of street youth workers in Tallaght to work with young people.

I am conscious that I have not answered the question but I have more in my conclusions.

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