Larry Butler (Fianna Fail)

I support the national drugs strategy and the drugs task force in the outstanding work it has done. I am disappointed, however, that with all this good work, methadone dispensing services have been withdrawn by pharmacists. The Minister of State must do everything possible to bring the two sides in the dispute together to ensure methadone users, who are most vulnerable, are not put back into a difficult situation. It is important not to engage in a blame game as to which side, the Health Service Executive or the pharmacists, is wrong. I would like to see greater efforts and, if necessary, a personal approach by the Minister for Health and Children to bring the two sides together.

The national drugs strategy pursued by the Minister of State and his predecessors is good. My area, Dún Laoghaire, has received a €9.8 million investment in drugs task force programmes for young people and other related services such as child care and the outreach programme. We would like to see further developments in these programmes. Some areas in Dún Laoghaire, which I will not name, have major drug problems but have received much attention from the drugs task force which I want to continue.

Child care is an important component in many individuals' drug rehabilitation. Many of those on methadone schemes who have found work find it difficult to continue if they cannot get child care. This is an important issue which I hope the Minister of State will examine. It is important the work of the drugs task force continues.