Ciarán Cannon (Progressive Democrats)

I second the motion. I have not consulted Senator O'Malley on this matter because I did not have the opportunity to do so. However, I also have a major difficulty with the way the Opposition drafted its amendment to the motion, which was framed in such a way as to allow all Members to air their views on this issue. I am somewhat disappointed it has not been taken in that spirit.

One of the major challenges facing us is the need to guide and nurture our young people in order that they might emerge from our homes and schools as well-rounded and independent individuals. They need to be well equipped to face the many challenges of the 21st century and they must be well informed of the dangers they face and how these can be overcome. While this task is not, and never should be, the sole responsibility of Government, we do have a major role to play. We need to view our society holistically. It is not possible to fix a systemic breakdown without simultaneously changing every interconnected problem that young people face.

Drug abuse in all its forms robs young people of their futures. I include alcohol and tobacco in my description of drugs. Statistics from the United States show that tobacco kills more people every year than all of the people killed by all illegal drugs in the 20th century. Alcohol kills 80,000 Americans each year. In the context of what Senator O'Malley said with regard to enforcement and an appropriate response to the different levels of drug abuse, it is interesting that statistics from the US Drug Enforcement Agency indicate that there were no deaths attributable to the use of cannabis. That is a matter we should re-examine.

If indignation and impatience could stop the problems of drug abuse, they would have done so long ago. Righteous though they may be, however, they cannot replace the need for effective strategies that deal with the entire web of problems behind drug abuse. It is my firm belief that we can make real progress in tackling the drug culture by beginning at the very basic building blocks of society, namely, our homes and communities. Community-based, collaborative efforts have proven to be the key to reaching out to those at risk and preventing abuse and neglect. If we take responsibility for ourselves, our families and our local communities we can ensure that neighbourhood by neighbourhood and town by town, abuse rates will continue to fall.

The Government is intent on supporting this type of local based effort and a further €2 million has been allocated in 2008 to develop and strengthen the work of the local drugs task forces and facilitate the implementation of projects under the emerging needs fund. More than 440 local drugs task force projects, including those under the emerging needs fund, are in receipt of moneys from the Department. The 2008 allocation of €22 million for such projects shows an increase of 9.5% over the amount spent in 2007.

I wish to focus on one aspect of the battle against drug abuse, namely, the provision of credible and appropriate social outlets for young people, particularly those in the 13 to 18 age group. Research carried out on behalf of the Government in recent years shows that children in this age group are most susceptible to alcohol and drug abuse. If we can succeed in getting young people in this age group through this difficult period, unscathed by the effects of drug abuse, we will be well on the way to solving this problem nationally.

A nationwide network of youth cafés forms the centrepiece of the Government's policy on developing recreational facilities for young people. The need for improved recreational options has consistently been raised by teenagers in consultations with and surveys carried out by a range of bodies in recent years. In particular, young people have said they want a place where they can hang out with friends, where they will be safe and over which they will have a sense of ownership. This policy has been welcomed by many youth representatives around the country. Comhairle na nÓg — our young people's parliament — has highlighted a grave lack of recreation facilities in some areas, particularly for teenagers who are not sport orientated.

I was recently fortunate enough to be asked to speak to a local junior certificate class about the wonders of the democratic process. In light of his comments earlier today, perhaps I should have allowed Senator O'Toole speak to them because he might have had a far more interesting perspective on the matter. Towards the end of our discussion, I asked the 15 year olds in the class what would be their priority if they were allowed to govern the country for one day. Without hesitation and with total unanimity they said they would provide a youth café in every town. The young men in the class pointed out that there were only four pool tables in their town and that all were located in pubs. These young men told me that, despite what people might think, they do not want to go into pubs. They stated that they feel extremely vulnerable in the pub environment and would give anything to be able to meet and play pool in a space they could call their own. Young people themselves have identified recreational opportunities as one of the most important quality-of-life issues in Ireland in recent years.

I am pleased the Minister of State with responsibility for children and his officials are examining various models of youth cafés and that a template could be ready soon for the development of such facilities in our communities. However I suggest that we already have a model or template which, with a little modification, could be used to empower communities to provide youth cafés for their young people. The equal opportunities child care programme is a shining example of how self-sufficient and proactive communities can be empowered to provide facilities for themselves. Since the programme's inception in 2000, more than 50,000 child care places have been provided by communities. This is the model we could use for youth cafés. Young people and their mentors could identify and substantiate a need for a youth café in their area. They could be directly involved in designing it and, with capital investment from the Government similar to that relating to child care, we could easily roll out a nationwide network of youth cafes in record time. With respect, there is no need to reinvent the wheel in this instance. I ask that at some point in the near future the Minister of State with responsibility for children return to the House to debate this matter further.

I am heartened by the approach taken by the Government in respect of education on drug abuse. The main focus of the national drugs strategy regarding education is on preventative strategies, targeting the primary and secondary levels, as well as the informal education sector, which includes youth services. Arising from this, all schools now have substance misuse prevention programmes included on their curricula. A consequence of this policy is that we are equipping all students with knowledge regarding the dangers of drug misuse.

The Department of Education and Science has in place a national curriculum for social, personal and health education, SPHE, which is backed up by teacher guidelines and a full-time support service through which teacher training is provided. The programme consists of a number of modules, including one relating to substance abuse, at both primary and post-primary level. Within the SPHE programme, the Walk Tall programme has been developed, in co-operation with the health sector, as the substance misuse prevention programme at primary level. The latter programme is part of the primary school curriculum — from junior infants to sixth class — and is supported by the primary curriculum support programme on a national basis. Social, personal and health education is a mandatory component of the junior cycle curriculum at post-primary level and is supported by the SPHE support service.

There is no doubt that progress is being made in the area of education on the dangers of drug abuse. This policy of education is without doubt the most important and powerful tool we have in the war against drugs. Empowering young people to make the right decision in respect of drugs is the real issue. Armed with the right information and provided with the facilities to socialise in a safe and credible environment, they will make the decision that they do not need drugs of any kind.