Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 11: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when the mid-term review of the national drugs strategy will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16657/05]

Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 12: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will report on the findings of the review of the national drugs strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16647/05]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 12 together.

The mid-term review of the national drugs strategy was overseen by a steering group, chaired by my Department, and made up of representatives from a number of relevant Departments and agencies, as well as from the community and voluntary sectors. The group was tasked with examining the overall progress made to date in implementing the strategy and with identifying future priorities for the remaining period up to 2008. The relevance of the strategy in tackling the current nature and extent of drug misuse in Ireland, including emerging trends, was also examined. The steering group has completed its deliberations and the Cabinet committee on social inclusion approved its report at its recent meeting.

In keeping with the terms of reference of the review, the report looks broadly at progress made to date under the strategy's 100 actions and identifies a number of areas, across each of the pillars of the strategy that need to be prioritised in the remaining period up to 2008. Amendments to existing actions and new actions in some cases are recommended to give renewed focus and priority to the issues for the remainder of the strategy. The report will be launched on Thursday 2 June in the Government press centre.

Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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As I received my invitation today, that is a well timed reminder. On the question, the House knows that the drugs strategy is not working, as is clear from results on the ground. I hope the review is honest, practical and highlights the problems. I accept that the strategy has worked to an extent in some areas and may have led to slight improvements. However, the majority view is that the strategy is not working.

What actions will be permitted under the review? Will there be a supplementary budget or Supplementary Estimate for this year to put increased funding into problem areas? The cocaine problem is growing. I presume the review refers to this and recommends urgent action. Will the House discuss finance for these actions in the coming weeks, given that there are only perhaps five sitting weeks before the summer recess?

Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Will the Minister comment on what seems to be the central trend of the review, namely, the shift in the Dublin area from heroin use to cocaine use and the stabilisation in the use of heroin in Dublin but its growing use in other urban centres?

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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In reply to Deputy English, the report states that the strategy is working well and that its objectives and aims are well focused. While it suggests some new priorities, and while a few of the strategy's 100 actions are being amended, fundamentally, the strategy gets a clean bill of health.

There will not be a supplementary budget for this year. The budget for this year under the drugs subhead has already been increased by 18%. That has allowed me to do many things, including providing funding for the regional drugs task forces, which were of interest to the Deputy. The plans of seven of the ten regional drugs task forces are now being considered. They will be rolled out as the year progresses.

These plans will address the point made by Deputy Boyle. I acknowledge that the number of heroin addicts in Dublin has stabilised at approximately 12,500 but that heroin use has spread, particularly to the towns of Leinster, such as Arklow, Carlow, Portlaoise, Tullamore, Athlone and similar towns. The services in such areas need improvement.

However, given the 18% increase in funding in this area, no extra funding will be made available this year. Some €5 million was allocated to the regional plans, many of which did not begin last January. While we might not have enough money to roll out those plans on a whole year basis, by the time they get up and running, the year will be at least half over.