Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 29: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if his attention has been drawn to new figures from the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction showing that Ireland ranks fifth out of 12 European countries for magic mushroom use among 15 to 24 year olds; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that almost 6% of them have used magic mushrooms in comparison with less that 1% in other European countries; the efforts he is making to educate young people regarding the dangers of magic mushrooms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31279/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware of the findings of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) thematic paper entitled 'Hallucinogenic Mushrooms: An Emerging Trend Case Study' launched on 26 June 2006 to mark International day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking.

With respect to Ireland, the data relates to 2002/03 and originated from the Drug Prevalence Survey undertaken on my behalf by the National Advisory Committee on Drugs. While Ireland is, as the Deputy points out, among the top five countries in relation to the highest life time prevalence estimates among young people aged 15-24 (5.5%), in relation to last year prevalence (1.1%) and last month prevalence (0.1%), it is among the countries with the lowest prevalence. This might suggest that, while there may have been a significant level of experimentation with magic mushrooms, evidence of sustained use of this drug was not emerging.

The Drug Prevalence Survey for 2006/07 currently underway, with first reports due in late 2007, will provide us with a clearer picture on any current trends.

Ireland, as the report points out, is one of 6 EU countries that have tightened legislation in regard to magic mushrooms since 2001. In 2005 with a growing awareness of an increased incidence of availability and visibility of the drug, and a tragic death in Dún Laoghaire, an examination of the legislation in the area was undertaken and this resulted with a Declaration Order (S.I. No. 55 of 2006) being signed on 31 January 2006 declaring magic mushrooms, whether raw or processed, to be controlled substances for the purposes of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977.

The Department of Education and Science has implemented substance misuse prevention programmes through the Social, Personal and Health Education Programme (SPHE), which is compulsory in all primary and post-primary schools. A consequence of this policy is that all students are equipped with knowledge about the dangers of drugs misuse including magic mushrooms. Also the dangers of the drugs are emphasised from time to time in drug prevention programmes.

Overall, I feel that the steps taken in regard to magic mushrooms in recent times are greatly reducing the risk of experimentation with these drugs by young people in Ireland.