Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 14: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the main aspects of the national drugs strategy for which considerable progress remains to be achieved; the way in which he intends to ensure that all of the 100 recommendations in the strategy and those amended through the mid-term review of the strategy are implemented in full by the strategy's end; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23014/05]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion agreed the report of the steering group on the mid-term review of the national drugs strategy in April and it was published earlier this month. The report is the culmination of the mid-term review, a comprehensive review process launched last year and included extensive public consultations.

A steering group, chaired by my Department, made up of the relevant Departments and agencies, as well as the community and voluntary sectors oversaw the review. External consultants also assisted the steering group. The review sought to assess the impact and direction of the strategy at this mid-point stage and, in this regard, the group concentrated on identifying adjustments to the existing strategy and highlighting priorities for the second phase up to 2008.

The steering group found that the current aims and objectives of the drugs strategy are fundamentally sound. There are encouraging signs of progress since 2001 when the strategy was first launched which suggest that our current approach to tackling the drug problem is proving effective. At the same time, however, the review highlights the need to re-focus priorities and accelerate the roll-out and implementation of various key actions in the remaining period of the strategy up to 2008. In this context, new actions and amendments have been identified. These changes should help strengthen the strategy and enable it to better deliver its aims.

Ten of the strategy's existing actions are being replaced, seven of the existing actions are being amended and there are eight new actions that aim to address issues such as family support and rehabilitation. The review found that 49 of the original 100 actions outlined in the strategy are completed or of an on-going nature, progress was on-going on a further 45 and there were six actions on which considerable progress has to be made.

Of the six, actions 61 and 72, relating to halfway houses and drugs training for professionals, are of a long-term nature and require considerably more work to bring them about and this is continuing. Other actions are the subject of specific recommendations in the mid-term review, such as the eleventh action on the community policing fora, action 63 on needle exchange and action 77 on meeting the Oireachtas committee.

On action 23, the Irish Prison Service advises that it would not be useful to undertake a review at this time. It would be more beneficial to introduce the new prisons drugs policy and to undertake the review when the new policy has been in place for a reasonable period to allow for meaningful evaluation. It is proposed that the review will be initiated in 2007.

On monitoring the strategy, the mid-term review has been a very useful exercise, allowing for a stock-take of progress at this mid-point in time. The strategy will continue to be monitored through the interdepartmental group on drugs, which I chair and through the Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion. The IDG meets regularly to assess progress by Departments and agencies in achieving the targets set for them and any obstacle to the implementation of any of the actions are brought to light and discussed at these meetings. Reports on the implementation of the strategy are presented to the Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion on a regular basis.

My Department, in conjunction with the relevant Departments and agencies, will draw up a revised framework for the implementation of the recommendations in the mid-term review, including timescales. This will be presented to the IDG in the coming months.

Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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The mid-term review showed some progress but I fear we might become complacent. There are still many problems because progress is not balanced, it has been made in the city but the problems are growing worse in the regions, with a report yesterday showing that deaths had risen ten fold. The new framework should concentrate on all areas and not just the city. There is no point fixing one problem while other problems are developing around us, which we ignore. Effort must be put into work in the regions.

How many of the regional drugs task forces have submitted plans? Have those plans been reviewed? What plans exist for funding them? Will the Department play an active role in pushing for results? There has been a lack of urgency in dealing with the regional drugs task forces in recent years. It is too easy to say they have not reported or submitted their plans. The Department must drive the regional task forces to get results and make changes. The Department cannot do everything but it must give them a bit of a push and display a sense of urgency.

The Minister of State is not responsible for all the problems but he is the man in charge of driving these projects. How proactive is the Department of Health and Children? According to the Department's figures, 59 initiatives are still awaiting implementation. What role will the Department of Health and Children play? Is it considering a withdrawal of support from the drugs task forces, leaving them to the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs?

The Department of Health and Children failed to provide immediate access for drug abusers to professional assessment and counselling by health board services in all areas. There are major waiting lists. That is the fault of the Department of Health and Children and the Health Service Executive which have failed to develop enough drop-in centres and half-way houses for which there is a major demand. In the judicial area, the rolling out of the community policing fora is badly needed as they do work. Communities must become involved in solving their problems and young people must be involved in projects in their areas, getting to know the gardaí through the community policing fora.

Not every Garda station has a specific drug unit or squad. A station may have access to one or be able to request a drugs unit from headquarters. This is not good enough as a rapid reaction is needed. The Garda will put more effort into tackling other criminal activity which is easier because drugs offences are more long term.

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Progress has been considerable. Seven of the ten regional plans have been submitted. The first tranche of resources of these will be announced in the next ten to 14 days. The Department is driving it through the national drugs strategy team. The problem has spread to other Leinster towns as evidenced with the recent deaths, which are sad. That is what the regional task force plans will attempt to address. We have not always got co-operation from some towns, which I do not wish to name.

Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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I understand that.

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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However, some of these towns have adopted the attitude that the problem does not exist or if it is ignored it will go away. The only way to tackle a problem is by providing services. Treatment is one of the main pillars of the strategy, which is focussed through the Department of Health and Children.

There were indications that some new people in the Health Service Executive were trying to back off on this as the drugs strategy is not the only problem the executive has. Some new brooms would rather it went away. However, I believe we have successfully handled this issue.