Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 39: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress made to date on the aim of significantly reducing the hardship caused to individuals and society by drug misuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15277/07]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Problem drug use remains one of the key challenges facing Irish society. However, through the implementation of the actions in the national drugs strategy in the first instance and, second, the projects and initiatives operated through the local and regional drugs task forces, problem drug use in our society is being addressed and the hardship caused to individuals and society is being alleviated.

With respect to treatment, it is important to note that more than 8,200 heroin users are now in receipt of methadone. This represents an increase of 66% on the 4,936 recorded on the central methadone treatment list in December2000.

The research outcome study in Ireland, ROSIE, commissioned by the national advisory Committee on drugs, NACD, found that the overall treatment of heroin users is very effective with the key achievements being significant reductions in heroin and other drug use; 27% abstinent from all drugs after one year; extensive reductions in drug injecting; improvements in physical and mental health; extensive reductions in criminal activity; and increased contact with health and social care services. The substantially increased funding being provided by my Department illustrates the serious drive by the Government to alleviate the problem. I recently announced a 16% increase in funding to tackle drug misuse in 2007, which follows on the increases over the preceding two years. There has been an 87% increase since 2004 and therefore the figures for the past three years are 18%, 37% and 16%.

The increased funding this year is facilitating a doubling of the amount available for the roll-out of the action plans of the regional drugs task forces, the implementation of the 67 projects under the emerging needs fund in the local drugs task force areas and the implementation of initiatives under the young people's facilities and services fund and local drugs task force projects.

Over 440 projects are supported by the local drugs task forces; 470 facilities and services projects are being delivered through the young people's facilities and services fund, including the employment of 188 youth and outreach workers and over 20 sports development officers. The driving objective of the fund is to target and look after at-risk young people, offer them alternatives to getting involved in drugs and to try to keep them on the straight and narrow and away from the dangers of drugs. Through the fund, young people are offered access to positive pursuits, including sports and other recreational activities, that increase the potential for healthy lifestyles.

Investment in the fund has increased substantially in recent years. Some of the largest projects include the Cabra Parkside centre; Ballywaltrim Community Centre in Bray; St. Catherine's Community Sports Centre in Marrowbone Lane; St. Teresa's Hall, Donore Avenue; and Donnycarney Youth and Community Centre.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

In total, nearly 650 people are employed in drug-related initiatives funded by my Department. It is worth noting that the €50 million in my Department's Vote is only part of an overall allocation of well over €200 million provided by the Government across a number of Departments to tackle the drugs problem this year. It is also worth noting that last year I launched a report entitled A Community Drugs Study — Developing Community Drugs Indicators, which was produced by the NACD and which examined the experiences and perceptions of three communities — Ballymun, Bray and Crumlin — with respect to drug use and associated issues. While problems persist in the communities relating to drugs, drink, anti-social behaviour and crime, the study noted significant improvements in regard to the school leaving age, reductions in some types of crime, the expansion of drug treatment services and improved employment opportunities over the period researched. The study also demonstrated clearly the merits of the approach underpinned by the national drugs strategy, stressing in particular the level of community involvement through drugs task forces.

Substantial progress is being made on the implementation of all aspects of the national drugs strategy and the increased funding is allowing us to build on the successes to date. Furthermore, the future implementation of the recommendations of the report of the working group on drugs rehabilitation, which will be launched in the next few weeks, will represent another big step forward. I am also expecting to receive shortly a recommendation from the National Drugs Strategy Team for an increased role for the Family Support Network, which was called for in the mid-term review of the strategy.

Overall, great efforts are being made from the ground up to tackle the ongoing problem of drug misuse in an ever-evolving global situation. While I acknowledge that much remains to be done to continue to tackle the problem, as is the case in all developed countries, I believe significant success has been achieved in reducing the hardship caused to individuals, families, communities and society at large.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive reply. Let us consider the phrases he used regarding the national drugs strategy. He referred to the mid-term review and implied the aims and objectives of the strategy are fundamentally sound. My interpretation of this is that he is trying to adopt the right approach. He says frequently that progress is being made across the pillars, but this does not indicate its extent, which could be great or very small. The statement is vague and unfocused.

The fact that there are an estimated 300,000 cannabis users in the country, and possibly 28,000 dependent thereon, is one side of the matter. The Minister of State mentioned heroin in his reply and referred to increased treatment places. This increase is very welcome and I acknowledge it but I must draw attention to a case that arose in my area with which I dealt recently. A young man of approximately 20 years, whose weight has decreased to six stone and who lives on mashed Rice Krispies, is still taking a lot of heroin. He has sores and I am told his teeth are falling out and his veins are collapsing. I understand the only suitable setting for him is in a controlled detox bed. To the best of my knowledge, such beds are available in Beaumont but nowhere else. The young man is suicidal and in danger of dying and his mother, who communicated with me this morning, is receiving no responses from the system.

Highlighting one such case is not the best way to argue a point but one should note the circumstances I described arise elsewhere. It is fine to list statistics and percentages but when a family is faced with a case such as I have described, one must ask whether the system is able to provide for a very urgent need.

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I was trying to summarise and my reply was very long. When the Deputy looks at my script, he will realise there was more to it than I stated. The strategy is mainly about heroin because that is where it all started. It was the drug of most concern in disadvantaged areas. I hear what the Deputy is saying about cannabis and other issues and I am not suggesting everything is perfect.

On the issue of the young man whom Deputy O'Shea knows, I accept rehabilitation and a continuum of care have comprised two weaknesses. People need different types of treatment. A high dependency detox bed, of which there are approximately 25 in the public sector nationally, is not necessary in every case, but it was a recommendation of the Rehab report, which went before the last meeting of the Cabinet sub-committee on social inclusion and will be published in the coming weeks. The statutory bodies have agreed on the recommendation for extra beds. A HSE group is working on a report on detox beds in respect of alcohol and drug addiction services.

Much has happened. I am not suggesting the situation is perfect, but the gaps are being closed and the situation is better every year. A high dependency detox bed might be necessary in the case referred to by the Deputy, but many speak of how they cannot get into Beaumont Hospital or Cuan Dara when entry is not always necessary. Rehabilitation and detox in the community with relevant and appropriate after-care is probably more important for most people. This is what we are trying to provide.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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I heard what the Minister of State stated and I accept that the case described is exceptional, but I was raising the fact that there does not appear to be anywhere for the young man to go when he is in such an awful state. On the other side of the coin, cocaine is a growing problem throughout the country. We cannot wait for the new drugs strategy to put effective new recommendations into operation. This issue must be addressed more urgently than is currently the case.

In terms of the suffering of individuals and families, is the situation better or worse after ten years of this Government and five years of the Department? One can say it is better in terms of resources and funding, which no one disputes, but we are not keeping pace with the awful problems. Garda figures suggest that drugs with a value of €6.6 million entered my constituency last year. This problem also includes the recreational use of cocaine.

The Minister of State put his finger on the issue when he stated that, to some extent, the national drugs strategy is dated, as it was developed in respect of chronic heroin issue. Unfortunately, figures suggest that heroin use is increasing in my constituency.

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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While there may not be enough places for young men such as the one referred to by the Deputy, there are places in Beaumont Hospital and Cuan Dara. There are a couple of dozen beds in private trusts and so on, but those in the medical field decide which cases are priorities. As another question has been asked on the issue of cocaine, in respect of which we commissioned a report, I will leave the matter alone.

The situation is better after ten years. Of course, I would say that, but a NACD survey called A Community Drugs Study: Developing Community Indicators for Problem Drug Use was conducted in the areas most affected by drugs and where the original drug task forces were located. In general, people spoke positively on the issue. The problems have not gone away, but the people surveyed in the communities ravaged by drugs for 15 or 20 years were not quoting me or any politician. They said that facilities, treatment and services had improved and they knew where to go for help which was available at statutory and community levels.

The strategy is not dated. It is due for review within the next two years. It has concentrated on the hardest drugs in the poorest areas and will continue to do so. Other drugs such as cocaine have come along but the emphasis will always be on the opiates and the poorest people who are most affected.