The national drugs strategy sought to increase the number of methadone treatment places to 6,500 by the end of 2002 and I am pleased to report significant progress. On 31 October, the latest date for which verified figures are available, the number of places stood at 6,446. This represents a substantial increase from the December 2000 figure of 5,032. In most areas waiting lists for those awaiting treatment have been significantly shortened while there are approximately 800 participating in the FÁS community employment scheme for recovering drug misusers.