Sheila Terry (Fine Gael)

A report was published recently on the number of drug-related deaths in the Dublin area. The figures are shocking. In my area of Dublin 15 there have been 50 deaths in a four-year period and the figure for parts of the inner city is far higher. The issue is not being addressed in a manner that will curb the numbers of deaths. Some 100 recommendations were brought forward by the national drugs strategy two years ago. We are now midway through that strategy, yet only approximately 50% of the recommendations have been implemented. Many of them relate to treatment, timeframes for providing treatment, and an increase in the number of gardaí qualified to deal with the drugs issue. It is vital that we progress and implement the 100 recommendations and do something to end the number of drug-related deaths in our communities in Dublin and throughout the country.