Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 315: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the statement (details supplied) by the outgoing chairman of the Tallaght drugs task force; his response to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27627/05]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware in general terms of the statement made by the outgoing chairman of the Tallaght drugs task force. I acknowledge that increased use of cocaine, in powder and more particularly in crack form, would present very serious challenges to drugs services. As the Deputy will be aware, there is no substitution treatment drug for cocaine and existing services such as counselling and behavioural therapy are the best treatments available.

In this context, it should be noted that the health services have recruited additional counsellors and outreach workers in recent years. The issue of increased poly-drug use, including cocaine, was also examined in the context of the mid-term review of the national drugs strategy and one of the key recommendations arising from the review is that increased priority be given to the availability and range of treatment options.

The Deputy may also be aware that late last year, I approved funding of almost €400,000 for a number of pilot cocaine projects which are being rolled out in selected local drugs task force areas, including Tallaght. The project in question is being developed through the community addiction response project, CARP, Killinarden, and St. Dominic's.

The Government will continue to monitor this situation very closely. In this regard, I am meeting representatives of the Garda national drugs unit in the near future to discuss this and other relevant issues.