Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 65: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if, further to his comments in Dáil Éireann on 5 October 2006, he will clarify if the number of heroin users has fallen slightly in Dublin and is at low levels nationwide; the information he was drawing on when making this statement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37011/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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The 3-Source Capture Recapture Study of the prevalence of opiate use in Ireland, published by the National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD) in May 2003, was the source of the information. It estimated that 14,452 people in Ireland were using heroin in the 2000/01 period. Of these 12,456 were in the greater Dublin area. This represented a decrease on a 1996 figure, which estimated that 13,461 people were using heroin in the greater Dublin area. The overall rate per 1,000 population was 5.6, with Dublin having a recorded rate of 16.0 per 1,000 in 2001 and the Rest of Ireland showing a rate of 1.0 per 1,000.

While comparative figures have not been produced in the intervening period, there is a general consensus that with respect to opiate use that the numbers have stabilised. A new study is at planning stage and, furthermore, the current all-island Drugs Prevalence Survey, from which first results will appear in the latter part of 2007, will indicate the overall trends on the use of heroin and other illicit drugs.