Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 71: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the results of a pilot programme run by the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children showing that children as young as 12 have been treated for problems relating to cannabis abuse, some as young as 14 for heroin, while others between 15 and 18 for ecstasy and cocaine problems; his views on whether programmes such as this can help identify the causes and cures for drug use among young persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36926/05]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware of the recent launch by the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, of the three-year statistics for its schoolmate drugs and alcohol pilot prevention programme as well the launch of the 4Me service and its information leaflets on drugs for parents and children. I welcome research in this area and what it can tell us about the causes of drug misuse.

I note that, as result of the experience of running this service, the ISPCC believes that drug awareness and prevention needs to be introduced as an integrated component of both the educational system and of parenting practice in general. I agree and I want to assure the Deputy that the national drugs strategy already has a dedicated prevention pillar which seeks to progress both these issues.

In this context, guidelines to assist schools in the development of a drugs policy have been developed and were issued to all primary and post-primary schools in May 2002. Furthermore, since September 2003 the social, personal and health education, SPHE, programme is a curriculum subject at both primary and post-primary level. At both levels, there are dedicated modules which focus on the prevention of substance misuse, including alcohol. In addition, one of the actions agreed in the mid-term review of the strategy is that drug prevention education should be part of the curriculum for student teachers.

The second phase of the national drugs awareness campaign was targeted specifically at parents and featured, among other things, a television, radio and print advertising campaign, specific parent-focused information on the website, www.drugsinfo.ie, and a Parents Guide to Drugs information leaflet. The most recent phase of the campaign was aimed at young people and focused on the dangers of cannabis use.

The Deputy should also note that my Department has responsibility for the young people's facilities and services fund, YPFSF. By developing youth, sport and other recreational facilities and services, the YPFSF seeks to attract "at risk" young people away from the potential dangers of substance misuse. In this regard, the YPFSF has provided funding for the ISPCC to employ a youth resource worker for the new 4Me service. This person will work with young people in the 13 to 18 years age group at risk of drug and alcohol misuse.

To date in 2005 over €13.5 million has been spent under the YPFSF. This is in the context of the total allocation to date through the fund of over €90 million. In broad terms, this has funded approximately 450 facility and services projects. These include building, renovating or fitting out of approximately 190 community centres, purpose built youth facilities and sports clubs as well as funding over 170 youth and outreach workers and 14 sports development officers.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 73: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if, in view of the large number of cocaine seizures by the Garda Síochána over the course of 2005, the growing social acceptance of cocaine as a recreational drug, the cheapness and availability of cocaine generally, and the consequent feuding between gangs here as they fight over the sale and distribution of cocaine, he believes it necessary to discuss with the regional drugs task forces the need to educate the people here regarding the dangers of cocaine and develop a new strategy in conjunction with them to combat the sale and consumption of cocaine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36924/05]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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As part of the national drugs strategy, ten regional drugs task forces, RDTFs, have been established throughout the country. The RDTFs work in a partnership manner, similar to the local drugs task forces, and are made up of nominees from State agencies working in the region, the community and voluntary sectors and elected public representatives.

At the outset, the RDTFs were involved in mapping out the patterns of drug misuse in their areas, as well as the current levels of services in place to address drugs misuse in their regions. This work informed the development of action plans to address gaps in key services going forward which were then forwarded to the national drugs strategy team, NDST, for assessment. All of the ten regional drugs task forces plans have now been assessed and allocations totalling just under €5 million have been made to allow them to get a range of projects up and running in their areas. The projects and services involved will deal with a range of drugs, including cocaine, and I look forward to working with them in this regard in the future.

The Deputy may also be interested to note that the national drugs awareness campaign, which was launched in 2003, has included two specific phases aimed at cocaine misusers — in autumn 2004 and again in May this year. These campaigns sought to outline the dangers of cocaine misuse in a targeted manner.