Dáil debates
Tuesday, 16 May 2006
Priority Questions.
National Drugs Strategy.
3:00 pm
Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 66: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his views on the use of moneys seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau for drug prevention and drug treatment programmes, in view of the increasing misuse of drugs and the need to enhance funding for the national drugs strategy; if he will urge his Cabinet colleagues to support the granting of such moneys for this purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18386/06]
Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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In principle I welcome the use of moneys seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau for drug prevention and drug treatment programmes. This idea has been explored by my officials. However, the critical issue is the level of overall funding made available for the implementation of the national drugs strategy and in that regard, I am fully satisfied with the amount of â¬43 million made available this year.
The earmarking of revenue for specific expenditure purposes is generally avoided as it is much more cumbersome to operate than utilising a central fund. In any case, the allocation of drugs-related CAB money to the work against drugs misuse would imply uncertain and variable amounts coming available. Furthermore, the allocation of CAB receipts would not necessarily imply an increase in overall funding.
The Government's spend on drugs initiatives amounts to much more than the amount taken in by CAB over the years. Also, the process of releasing such money from CAB takes several years. Overall, an allocation of â¬43 million has been made to my Department's Vote for the drugs initiative and young people's facilities and services fund in 2006. This represents an increase of 37% on the original 2005 allocation and a 61% increase on the 2004 allocation. I am satisfied that current Government expenditure on drugs is sufficient to meet the needs of those involved in tackling the effects of the misuse of drugs.
Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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I am disappointed by the Minister of State's response to the effect that, while he welcomes the money, he is happy with what the Government is spending. Currently people who want to wean themselves off heroin and enrol on a treatment programme have to wait 19 months in some parts of this country. It is a year in some parts of Dublin and eight months in Navan, from where I come. The Minister of State is satisfied with the amount of money being spent but the delays are a direct result of the fact that not enough money is being spent.
Money raised through CAB is money made from drugs crime. Money made on the back of drugs and the hurt, death and destruction associated with drug abuse should be put back into solving the drugs problem. Some â¬16 million has been made from CAB in recent years. The money should be put straight back into the fight against drugs crime. There is neither enough money nor enough urgency.
Séamus Pattison (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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The Deputy should ask a question.
Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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It is a question. The Minister says he is happy that â¬5 million has been given to the regional drugs task forces but that is less than â¬250,000 per county to tackle drugs. It will not even cover four or five staff in a treatment centre or working with young people to prevent them taking the drugs road. Will he return to the Government and ask for an increase in money to fight drugs? Youth groups, voluntary groups and youth federations hold table quizzes and fundraising events every week to raise a few euro to pay their staff and their electricity bills and the Minister of State says he does not want the money raised through the profits from drugs crime to be put back into the fight against it. We do not even spend â¬1 million per week in the fight against drugs but drug dealers are making millions per day from drugs. With so little funding available, we have no chance of tackling the problem.
I am disappointed to hear the Minister of State claim to be in favour of using moneys seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau for drug prevention and drug treatment programmes given that his Government voted down the opportunity to ring-fence the â¬16 million raised by the bureau in recent years. This amounts to only a few million each year and the revenue the CAB will raise each year is easy to predict. This money is needed on the ground to tackle the drug problem. No one can argue that money made from the sale of drugs should not be spent on preventing drugs being peddled. I am disappointed to hear the Minister of State argue that this cannot or will not be done. We need all the money we can get to tackle drugs. The groups seeking on our behalf to keep young people off drugs are not being given the help they need. The use of CAB moneys for this purpose offers an opportunity to put another few euro their way to assist them in their work. The problem can only be addressed through money, resources and staff. There is something seriously wrong in this country of which we are so proud when a person must wait 12 months for a place on a drug treatment programme.
Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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While I note the Deputy's comments, money collected by the Criminal Assets Bureau is not available to anybody.
Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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It becomes available after a few years.
Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Yes, after seven years. The Criminal Assets Bureau was only established about eight years ago.
Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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It was established in 1996 and has been seizing assets since 1997. Moneys it seized are, therefore, available to be spent.
Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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As these moneys are ring-fenced for seven years, only a small amount has become available to the Exchequer in the past 12 months or thereabouts. While it would be fine if more CAB money were to come our way, I am more concerned about the overall amount of money available for drug treatment, rather than its origins.
The Deputy referred to a figure of â¬43 million available for community treatment projects this year. When an additional â¬25 million mainstreamed to other Departments is added, this amounts to funding of more than â¬70 million. More than 600 people are employed on projects, services or facilities which started at community level.
As the treatment funding to which the Deputy referred is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive, I have no control over it. Approximately 450 people outside Dublin are participating in methadone programmes. A couple of years ago, no one outside Dublin was involved in such programmes because anyone who wanted to participate in them had to take a train or bus to Dublin every day.
Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Are only 500 of the 15,000 heroin addicts on methadone treatment programmes?
Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Of approximately 8,000 people on methadone, about 450 are located outside Dublin. A country in which half of heroin users are on methadone is doing damn well by international standards. As I indicated, however, funding in this area is a matter for the Health Service Executive.
Waiting lists are increasing in towns outside Dublin, particularly in Leinster, because services are being provided outside Dublin. The reason there were no queues in the past was that services were not available. It takes time to extend services because not everyone can distribute methadone and it takes time to train doctors to levels 1 and 2. Nevertheless, 450 people are participating in methadone programmes outside Dublin.
Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Methadone is only one form of treatment and many groups want to treat drug users. The Minister of State will be aware the Aisling group in County Meath, for example, does great work but operates on a shoestring budget. It is directly funded by the Department but has been unable to secure additional funding.
Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I presume the Aisling group submitted an application for funding, features in the regional plan and is drawing down the money allocated to it.
Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Is â¬500,000 sufficient to operate a plan?
Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Has the group drawn down the funding? Is it seeking further funding?
Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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It sought but did not receive further funding.
Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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As I indicated, the regional drug task forces were established and later submitted plans which were approved. The Deputy should not blame me if the task forces did not seek adequate funding. They cannot put their plans into place on one day. It takes time and some of them are moving quicker than others. Overall, approximately â¬70 million per annum is being spent on programmes which started at community level and between 600 and 650 employees have been recruited to work with and look after drug users.
Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Youth groups are waiting for money.