Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 1: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the position regarding the development of a national drugs strategy from 2009 to 2016; if a steering group has been nominated to develop the strategy; when it is expected this group will meet; the timescale for the development of the strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5683/08]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has commenced work on the development of the new national drugs strategy for the period 2009 to 2016. I have established a steering group, comprising representatives of the key statutory, community and voluntary interests involved in tackling problem drug use, to make recommendations on a new strategy to me as the responsible Minister. The first meeting of the steering group was held on 10 January.

Over the coming months the steering group will be examining the progress and impact of the current national drugs strategy, the degree to which it continues to be relevant and the operational effectiveness of the structures involved. It will also examine developments regarding drug policies at EU and international levels. Following on from this work, the group will consider how a new strategy should address problem drug use and finalise recommendations to me in that regard.

A comprehensive public consultation process will be undertaken over the coming months as part of the work of developing the new strategy. I intend to be involved directly in many of the consultation meetings that are being planned at present. I also invite the spokespersons from the other parties to participate in that process, whenever they wish.

I intend to bring proposals for a new national drugs strategy to the Cabinet committee on social inclusion, children and integration by the end of the year.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I am delighted the steering group met on 10 January. It is important that the strategy is devised as quickly as possible. When does the Minister of State intend to publish the strategy? Has the Minister of State had meetings, separately, with the Ministers for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Education and Science and Health and Children concerning the drugs strategy? If the Minister of State cannot answer my next question today, I ask him to write to me with the information I seek. What happens to drugs that are seized in this country? People are worried that some of these drugs, for whatever reason, may end up on the streets again. What happens to the drugs? Are they disposed of and who witnesses that disposal? I ask the Minister of State to inform me, the House and many people who are concerned about this matter. There is an enormous amount of drugs in this country, which is creating major problems. I wish to know how seized drugs are disposed of, by whom is such disposal witnessed and what is the usual process.

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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With regard to the publication of the drugs strategy, the public consultation process and the evaluation, by consultants, of the strengths and weaknesses of the current drugs strategy should be completed by the end of July. I estimate that approximately 30 meetings will take place, in various parts of the country with different interest groups. The draft strategy will then be discussed by the steering group and I would expect it to go before the Cabinet committee on social inclusion, children and integration before the end of the year. I am pressing very hard to ensure that the strategy is published before the end of this year so a new strategy will be in place for 1 January 2009.

Discussions with the Ministers for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Education and Science and Health and Children are ongoing but more formalised discussions will take place as part of the strategy formulation process. I am already in discussions with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform on a number of issues in areas for which it has responsibility. The Departments of Health and Children and Education and Science are represented at the inter-departmental committee on drugs, which I chair. The next meeting of that committee will take place within three weeks.

The issue of the disposal of drugs was raised recently by way of a written parliamentary question by Deputy Ring's colleague, Deputy Seán Barrett. However, for the benefit of the House and if the Leas-Cheann Comhairle wishes it, I can inform the House of the position as it was outlined to Deputy Barrett.

When drugs come into the possession of the Garda authorities, they are destroyed upon the determination of court proceedings. Drugs classified as controlled in the Schedule of the Misuse of Drugs Act which are seized by members of the Garda Síochána, are destroyed under the supervision of a detective inspector from the Garda technical bureau, following analysis, evidential requirements and the written authorisation of a member of the Garda Síochána, not below the rank of inspector, from the Garda district where the drugs originated. The Garda technical bureau also facilitates destruction of controlled drugs which have been received at the bureau from customs officials, under the supervision of a Garda inspector and with written authorisation from an appropriate customs officer. Each operation is documented and all associated records are maintained by the Garda technical bureau. For security reasons, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform cannot divulge further details of the disposal logistics.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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People are worried and there should be more openness around the way drugs are disposed of in this country. Certain allegations have been made to me and I would like some public input into the way drugs are disposed of.

Many people complained that the last national drugs strategy did not target the people who needed it most. I hope the Minister of State will learn from that because the problem is even more serious now. More people than ever are taking drugs. Those working in the area feel that we were targeting a very limited number of people and that the strategy did not really work. I hope we have learned lessons from the last strategy. We must do more with regard to the targeting of people. We must broaden our horizon on the amount of people taking drugs and not pretend we do not have a problem. We have a serious problem. We probably have the biggest drug problem in Europe.

Yesterday I watched a television programme on BBC which dealt with drugs entering the UK. The authorities undertook an operation that went on for six months. Hundreds of police officers were involved and a massive amount of drugs was seized. They also arrested the people who were supplying the drugs. However, they only caught some of those involved in the trade, which will not stop the drug trafficking. Nevertheless, we must do something like that here.

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I will convey to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the Deputy's wish that a more open system for the disposal of drugs is put in place.

The Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív, the Taoiseach and I attended a meeting of the British-Irish Council this morning, which was held in the Royal Hospital in Kilmainham. Attending were representatives from the governments of this jurisdiction, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England, Guernsey and Jersey. The topic for discussion was drugs, with a focus on how we can support families and communities. In discussions at the plenary session of the council and on the margins, with my counterparts in the other jurisdictions, it emerged that the strategies are very similar across all the administrations. The issues are not dissimilar.

I take on board that we have a serious drugs problem and I have never said that we have not. It is an ongoing challenge and we must have a very robust strategy to counter it. The issue which I am throwing into the mix, for debate, is one which I have referred to consistently since I was appointed, namely, how alcohol misuse must form part of the discussions on the formulation of the next drugs strategy. It is part of the strategy in some of the other jurisdictions and I would like us to at least have an open debate about its incorporation into our national strategy.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 2: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his views on whether the recent welcome seizures of drugs by the Garda, including the seizure of an estimated €10 million worth of cannabis in County Kildare, reflects the continuing widespread availability of and demand for illicit drugs; the steps he plans to take to reduce the demand for drugs in communities; if he is satisfied with the work of the local drug task forces in this regard; if he plans new initiatives to reduce demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5688/08]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the major drugs find in County Kildare, to which the Deputy refers, and congratulate the Garda Síochána on the seizure. I also welcome the recent overall significant level of drugs seizures and associated arrests made by the Garda. I understand that the recent Garda successes are directly attributable to increased law enforcement at all levels, through intelligence-driven operations.

However, it is difficult to know the extent to which these seizures reflect a continuing widespread availability of, and demand for, illicit drugs. While drugs seizures are often interpreted as indicating widespread availability of drugs, no definitive evidence is available to illustrate the degree to which this may be true. Different organisations quote varying percentage relationships between seizures and the overall market, but these are purely estimates, taking little account of improved investigative work, better equipment, such as x-ray scanners and dogs, the planned final destination of drugs that are seized and so on, not to mention the clandestine nature of drug trafficking.

However, I accept that sizable increases in seizures, though welcome in themselves, raise concerns about the amount of illegal drugs getting into the country. The best estimate we have about the changing nature of drug prevalence in our society come from the results of the all-island drugs prevalence survey 2006-07, of which I launched the first bulletin last month.

The survey found that lifetime and recent, that is, in the last year, drug use in the population had increased, though the level of current, that is, in the last month, use was stabilizing. The order of the increase in lifetime use for all drugs from 18.5% to 24% was expected. This is because older people tend to have less exposure to, and usage of, drugs over their lifetimes. Hence, lifetime prevalence rates are likely to increase for a considerable period as the current younger population ages. The increase in recent use, though less marked, is of more concern and emphasises the ongoing challenge we face in tackling illegal drug use in Ireland. I am sure the Deputy will agree that the stabilisation of current use — "last month" use — is to be welcomed. A further key finding of the survey concerned increased use of cocaine, particularly among the 15-34 year age group.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

Under the current national drugs strategy, a number of approaches are being taken to address prevention, education and awareness raising in our society. Given the strong correlation between social disadvantage and heroin use, the strategy focuses in particular on the problem of early school leaving in local drugs task force, LDTF, areas. Through a variety of LDTF programmes and the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund, YPFSF, my Department funds activities that complement the work of the Department of Education and Science in respect of early school leaving.

Schools use a skills-based approach with respect to drugs education through both the Walk Tall and the social and personal health education programmes at primary and secondary levels. It is important that students consider the drugs issue and understand the reasons substances are controlled, in particular, the inherent health dangers involved, as well as the associated public order and crime issues. Regarding the diversion of young people from drug use, more than €130 million has been allocated by my Department under the YPFSF to support nearly 500 facilities and services projects in disadvantaged areas aimed at young people, aged ten to 21 years, at risk of drug misuse. Currently, the fund operates in LDTF areas in Dublin, Bray and Cork and in the urban centres of Galway, Limerick, Waterford and Carlow. In this context, the Deputy should note that I intend to expand the operation of the fund to more towns in the coming months.

Overall, I am satisfied with the work of the drugs task forces, both at local and regional levels, in the area of prevention and I will be providing them with additional funding this year to facilitate a regional and local drugs awareness campaign, which will dovetail with the national campaign focusing on cocaine that I launched on Monday last. Illicit drug use is a societal problem and requires more than a Government response. I believe that people must take personal responsibility for their actions and it is vital that all drug users consider fully the negative implications of drug taking for themselves, their families and their communities. Through the implementation of the national drugs strategy and the co-operation of the various Departments and agencies, as well as the community and voluntary sectors, I am confident that we will continue to build on the considerable progress made to date in tackling problem drug use in our country.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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I thank the Minister of State for his detailed reply and I wish to be associated with the congratulations offered to the Garda in respect of the recent finds.

The problem in my constituency relates to what one would call drug barons' safehouses. When they live in an area, they create a mechanism whereby drugs can be hidden while being moved in and out of or around the country. What linkage is there between the Departments of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Garda in accumulating all of the relevant information? The success of intense surveillance, etc, is obvious. The books of crime correspondents agree on this matter. People can tell where there is a drug baron in a constituency.

What is the next stage? The seizure in question was a perfect example of good policing, but how can it be expanded upon? What linkages are there between the Departments referred to, the Garda and the drug agencies in, for example, County Kildare? Residents are deeply concerned by what is occurring. Given the deaths in Dublin and the number of people who are of the drug baron standard, the question I am asked regularly is when will the same occur in Kildare.

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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The matter of safehouses to which Deputy Wall referred is of serious concern. In that regard and in respect of other matters, we have been engaging with the Garda at the interdepartmental committee on drugs and elsewhere. The Garda and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform are represented at the former, which I chair.

The most effective system of policing is the intelligence-driven and intelligence-led operations mounted by the Garda. The Garda drugs unit liaises with local units on the ground to gather local information and is supported by the community, an important part of this issue, so that it can get a profile of these types of drug operations. Recently, and as included in the programme for Government, profiling of lower level operators has been introduced. These are the people to whom the Criminal Assets Bureau might not have paid attention until now and who are now being paid attention at Garda district level. The Garda Commissioner has arranged for the training of officers at district level to ensure they are able to identify the common factors around the major gangs, namely, their lifestyles, the approaches they tend to take and other matters the Garda will not even discuss with me. There are indications that a number of these operations have been successful.

All communities should be aware of the issue of safehouses. Whatever information exists should be passed on to the Garda. Local policing committees, which have been established in co-operation with local authorities and the Garda, comprise a good vehicle for making this type of information available to the Garda so that issues can be pursued.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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I agree with the Minister of State regarding policing committees, but something is missing. In the area inside the Wicklow-Kildare-Meath-Louth circumference, there are no community gardaí mixing with the communities. This is an ideal opportunity to put a mechanism in place to determine what can be done. If the Garda does not interact with the people, there will be no interaction at all. We want community gardaí in the area. Through the Minister of State's representations to the Garda and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, what can be done to determine how to put community policing in place alongside policing committees so that we can ensure all of the information on the drug barons is made available?

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Without pre-empting the next strategy, I thank Deputy Wall for raising this matter because more attention must be paid to the arc to which he refers — the Drogheda-Navan-Arklow area. I call them the new commuter towns, those that are within 50 km of Dublin city. The resources provided, including community policing, which has been a significant factor in bettering the situation in areas where improvements have taken place, are the way forward in the newly developed areas to which the Deputy referred. As I stated previously, we will extend the remit of the YPFSF to towns in the region.