Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 269: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will implement the recommendations in the report of the Joint Committee on Arts, Sports, Tourism and Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs in the treatment of cocaine addiction, with particular reference to the Irish experience. [29918/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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This report makes a number of recommendations including the funding and expansion of treatment services for cocaine users. The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the HSE has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Health Service Executive to investigate the matter raised and to reply directly to the Deputy.

In addition, the report makes recommendations in relation to the development of media information campaigns to underpin the wide variety of drug education and prevention work being undertaken. The health promotion unit of the Department, in fulfilling its obligations under the National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008, has developed and managed the national drugs awareness campaign over the past three years. The campaign aims to increase awareness among the general population and particular target groups about current problem drug use and its consequences across society. To date the campaign has developed four distinct phases, consisting of both advertising and public relations, which have targeted the general population, parents, 18-35 year olds and teenagers. The report also highlights the importance of drugs education from an early age, in conjunction with awareness raising campaigns.

In Ireland drugs education is delivered in schools through the social, personal and health education, SPHE, curriculum. Both my Department and the Department of Education and Science support the introduction and implementation of this curriculum area in schools. Since September 2003, SPHE has been mainstreamed in all primary and post-primary schools, for junior cycle students. A management committee is currently working on the development of an SPHE curriculum for senior cycle students.

Action 43 of the National Drugs Strategy also called for all schools to develop, through a process of consultation and partnership, a school substance use policy. To facilitate this process my Department, the Department of Education and Science and the HSE health areas have produced guidelines for schools to assist in developing policies. These have been circulated to all schools and highlight the importance of SPHE as the core preventative strategy for schools.