Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim céad fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. Fáiltím go mór roimh an díospóireacht iontach tábhachtach seo agus fáiltím freisin roimh ceapachán an Aire Stáit mar Aire atá ag plé le cúrsaí drugaí. Ach an oiread leis an Seanadóir a bhí ag labhairt romham, is deacair a fheiceáil, cé chomh cumasach agus atá an Aire Stáit, cén chaoi ar féidir leis na tránna ar fad a fhreastal maidir leis na cúraimí ar fad atá air agus cén chaoi ar féidir leis dóthain airde a thabhairt ar an cheist fíor-thábhachtach seo. Nílim ag fáil lochta ar an Aire Stáit, ach ag fáil lochta ar leagan amach na hoibre.

This is a complex issue. I have first-hand experience of dealing with drug and alcohol addiction close to home. It is not just a question of dealing with the addiction, but also the societal, familial and economic issues involved. The national drugs strategy has been running since 2009 and is to conclude in 2016. While it aims to cut across public policy and service delivery to tackle the drug problem, it is recognised by many as having failed to achieve that in any meaningful way. The numbers of those addicted to heroin is increasing and drug related deaths have increased by 50% in the past decade. At a joint policing committee meeting that I attended in Galway yesterday, the superintendent reiterated her concerns about the alarming increase in the misuse of heroin. Ecstasy tablet use everywhere has also increased. A councillor who was a taxi driver stated that he regularly had to clear ecstasy tablets out of the back of his cab on Saturday evenings. This indicates how much misuse there has been among our young people. The terrible and tragic death of Ana Hick in Dublin recently indicates that drugs are available not just in Galway, Dublin and so on, but also in any rural town that has a disco on a Saturday night. One is probably likely to find that some drugs are available quite handily to young people.

When one understands that funding to local drugs task forces has been cut by almost 80% in the past five years, the reasons for these issues as well as the societal issues become clear. In rural areas in recent years, health, support and social services have been cut back drastically. This has not helped the situation. My colleague, Sinn Féin's health spokesperson, Deputy Ó Caoláin, recently welcomed the Minister of State's appointment, as did I. Prior to that, we had the unfortunate circumstance of the current Government being the first in 21 years not to have a Minister of State with responsibility for drugs. However, I must ask what the Minister of State's main priority is, as he also has responsibility for equality, new communities, culture and commemorations.

The Minister of State has stated that the current national drugs strategy is too old and has lost energy and focus. We are happy with some of his statements so far and that he is willing to engage new methods in the fight against drugs. He stated that he would be supportive of the introduction of injection centres for addicts. We should not rush to rule that proposal out before discussing it, as it seems to have some merit. There were issues with the dumping of drug paraphernalia in Galway recently, particularly in Westside, Ballinfoyle and Ballybane. This major problem must be addressed.

The alternative to injection centres for addicts is a continuation of the current dangers and problems with which we are all too familiar, including carelessly disposed of needles and the health risks of injecting in non-clinical settings. Deputy Ó Caoláin, who has met representatives of the Ana Liffey Drug Project, has stated that we should be open to discussing the proposition, including its benefits and down sides, and making an informed decision based on all of the facts. I note the Minster of State's comments to the effect that methadone maintenance is not working for a cohort of drug addicts. There are more than 10,000 registered methadone users in the State, a large number, so we must ensure that we examine all options. I understand that some of those being considered may be more expensive, but perhaps the Minister of State might comment on the small group of people who are receiving suboxone, how they are doing and whether consideration has been given to extending this project. The Minister of State has provided details on naloxone, but perhaps he could give more detail on that project. Naloxone has been made available for prescription to opioid drug users, the aim being to reduce drug related deaths. How will this be monitored and what is its end point?

Last month, the Minister of State told us that there were a number of addiction counsellor posts vacant in the Dublin region. Where are there vacancies in other regions? What has been done to ensure recruitment?

The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children recently agreed to address the issue of legal highs, mindful of the deaths that had occurred consequent on the use of those substances, not only in Ireland but on a European basis. A new strategy must address any legislative loophole and ensure that repeats of inadvertent legalisation do not occur. We as legislators, and the Government in the first instance, must address the damage being done to society by drugs. This problem faces every town and disproportionately affects communities that have been hardest hit by the current and previous Governments' austerity policies. A new national drugs strategy must recognise this and be adequately resourced for its duration so that the number taking drugs, and taken by drugs, does not continue to increase.

Today sees a work to rule in University Hospital Galway by the Psychiatric Nurses Association, PNA, which told me that two of the problems were overcrowding and the pressure on its members as a result of cutbacks in addiction services and so on. Obviously, this is a broad problem. I wish the Minister of State well in his efforts to tackle it, but I am concerned that he has a great deal on his plate.