Seanad debates
Wednesday, 12 November 2003
Courts and Court Officers (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second and Subsequent Stages. - National Drugs Strategy: Motion.
10:30 am
Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
The first phase of the campaign was very general but the second phase, which is due to be rolled out in the coming months, will specifically target parents. Guidelines to assist schools in developing a drugs policy have been developed and were issued to all primary schools in May 2002. A great deal of progress has been made in other areas, by the Customs and Excise and others. Good progress has been made in the coastal watch programme which has been launched. More than 1,100 recovering drug misusers are participating in the special FÁS community employment schemes. I have mentioned the all-Ireland survey of drug use and the prevalence of opiate misuse in Ireland. I recommend that all Members read the survey to ascertain the facts, rather than what they might hear from others.
I want to address the issue of Garda numbers. The Government is committed to ensuring that the Garda Síochána is provided with the necessary resources, in terms of personnel and equipment, to enable it to deal efficiently and effectively with the challenges it faces. There were 10,800 gardaí when the Government took office in 1997, but that figure has since increased to 11,900. The Government is on target to increase the number of gardaí further to 12,200. The Garda training college at Templemore is operating at full pace. There are problems at present because many gardaí have reached retirement age. Perhaps the Opposition parties recommend a watering down of the—
No comments