Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 103: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the efforts being made to combat rising cocaine use among persons here; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that cocaine is the drug of choice for many younger persons here; if he will launch a nationwide campaign, targeted at schools and colleges, on the dangers of cocaine use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30680/05]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 134: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if, in view of recent research and Garda information showing that there is an increased demand for cocaine, among all sectors of society, he will report upon progress made in the pilot projects in this area that were rolled out by local drug task forces in 2005. [30695/05]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 103 and 134 together.

As Deputies are aware, my Department has overall responsibility for co-ordinating the implementation of the national drugs strategy 2001-08. The strategy contains 108 individual actions to be implemented by a range of Departments and agencies.

As I have outlined to this House on a number of occasions, I am confident that, through the implementation of the actions in the national drugs strategy and the projects and initiatives operated through the drugs task forces, the problem of cocaine use can be addressed. Each of the local drugs task forces has in place an action plan to tackle drug use in its area based on its own identified priorities, and as informed by its local communities.

These projects deal with supply reduction, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation for a range of drugs, including cocaine. We have to be aware that many drug users engage in poly-drug use and, therefore, projects should be able to address this pattern of usage rather than concentrate on one drug only.

The regional drugs task forces, covering all parts of the country that are not serviced by a local drugs task force, have been allocated funding to advance the implementation of action plans in their areas, including tackling cocaine.

With regard to treatment, Deputies may be aware that there is no substitution treatment drug for cocaine and existing services such as counselling and behavioural therapy are the most effective treatments available. In this context the health services have recruited additional counsellors and outreach workers over the last number of years.

On the prevention side, the ongoing national awareness campaign on drugs continues to address the issue of cocaine through a well-received campaign. The campaign aims to tackle the perception held by some that cocaine use is safe. The gardaí and Customs and Excise continue to target cocaine dealers and there have been significant seizures of cocaine in recent years.

The drug prevalence survey, jointly carried out by the national advisory committee on drugs and the drugs and alcohol information and research unit in Northern Ireland, is generally regarded as providing the most reliable baseline data on drug prevalence in Ireland. That study, which was carried out between October 2002 and April 2003, surveyed 8,442 people aged from 15 to 64 and reported that 3% of the population had used cocaine during their lifetime, 1.1% had used it in the previous 12 months and 0.3% used in the previous month. Similar surveys undertaken in other European countries would suggest that Ireland is roughly average in terms of use.

As I have informed the House previously, I am also aware of other evidence of a continuing increase in the prevalence of cocaine use, particularly through the work of the gardaí, the Health Research Board and the national advisory committee on drugs. In this regard, it is planned to repeat the drug prevalence survey in 2006.

The increase in Ireland would appear to coincide with an increase in the availability and use of cocaine in Europe generally, as a result of increased production, particularly in Colombia, and a consequential drop in the street price. Additional funding of almost €400,000 was recently provided by me to support a series of pilot proposals aimed at tackling cocaine use in local communities. These initiatives are: training for front line staff; production of educational material outlining the dangers associated with cocaine use; and four treatment projects each targeting a different aspect of cocaine use.

All of the pilot projects are being implemented currently and an external evaluator has been engaged by my Department to assess their progress and impact. While it is too early to assess the impact of the programmes, I understand that general feedback on the projects is positive. I can assure Deputies that the Government will continue to monitor the cocaine situation closely and to take any steps found necessary as a result.