Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 107: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if his attention has been drawn to a new drugs initiative launched in Blanchardstown, West Dublin, that aims to limit the harmful effects of drugs such as cocaine, cannabis and ecstasy among regular users; if such an initiative is a model for other communities here where drug use is a major or emerging problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42848/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I recently received a copy of the report "Harm Reduction Strategies and Young People in Blanchardstown" prepared by the Blanchardstown Local Drug Task Force, which was launched by my colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of Health & Children, while opening the Blanchardstown Drug Awareness week in November.

The report proposes the use of harm reduction messages to young people at risk of polydrug use in the Blanchardstown area. It then envisages building on existing services through developing a range of harm reduction measures and programmes, in conjunction with appropriate drug services and youth services, to minimise the negative consequences of drug use for the individual, the family and the community.

Funding of €60,000 for the provision of an education service to assist the implementation of the harm reduction strategy, building on existing preventative services, has been provided by my Department under the Emerging Needs Fund, bringing the total provided to Blanchardstown LDTF under that Fund to €244,000.

As the Deputy is aware, the National Drugs Strategy is based on a "bottom up" approach with Drug Task Forces, both Local and Regional, developing programmes of actions appropriate to their own areas of operation. The rollout of an initiative such as the harm reduction strategy in Blanchardstown to other areas would depend on the degree of success of the initiative and whether other Drug Task Forces consider it to be an appropriate response to their problems regarding illicit drugs. This can only be determined after the strategy has been implemented and subsequently evaluated.