Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 24: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the steps he is taking, on top of and in addition to awareness campaigns, to address the cocaine problem here specifically. [12265/08]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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The National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD) and the National Drugs Strategy Team (NDST) reported to the Interdepartmental Group on Drugs (IDG) in September 2006 setting out a series of recommendations on how to best tackle the emerging cocaine problem. This paper formed the basis for their joint report "An Overview of Cocaine Use in Ireland II", which was published in March 2007. I am pursuing the implementation of the recommendations of the report with the HSE, the Gardaí, Drugs Task Forces and others through the Inter-Departmental Group (IDG), which I chair.

The recommendations principally relate to treatment but also cover supply, prevention, and research. A key conclusion of the report is that available evidence indicated that many approaches already in use in the general addiction services, particularly counselling, work well with cocaine users. The broad approach being pursued is that drug services should be capable of catering for the individual problem drug user, regardless of the drugs they use. At the recent IDG meeting in March, the HSE provided an up-date on the progress being made in regard to adapting existing services to meet emerging needs, in particular cocaine.

Another key recommendation relates to the training of frontline personnel to deal with cocaine issues. In this regard, a training initiative has already been funded by my Department, as well as four pilot cocaine treatment projects to examine different methods of treatment for cocaine use. Currently the HSE is rolling out further training for both its own staff and those in the community and voluntary sectors who are dealing with the issue.

Under the Emerging Needs Fund, six cocaine specific projects in Local Drugs Task Force areas have been funded by my Department and support for a further nine projects — aimed at polydrug/cocaine use — has also been provided under that Fund.

Last year, my Department also sponsored a highly successful conference organised by the SAOL project and the NDST on the response to cocaine through shared good practice. A very useful resource pack for workers in the field was launched at that event.

To build on these measures, last week I announced a €2m funding package to develop initiatives aimed at tackling cocaine use and raising awareness about cocaine in local communities, as well as supporting the rehabilitation of drug users.

With regard to supply reduction, there has been a significant increase in the volume of drugs seized, and the number of seizures, by both the Gardaí and the Custom Service over the past number of years. Much of this is down to a successful intelligence led approach pursued both nationally and internationally. I am also assured that the recent establishment, on a permanent basis, of an Organised Crime Unit focusing on gangland related criminal activity by the Gardaí, will assist both national and local Drugs Units in relation to drug trafficking and distribution.

The challenges posed by cocaine use are significant, but I am confident that we can meet these challenges through a co-ordinated approach utilising the structures of the National Drugs Strategy.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 25: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of meetings he or his officials have had or are proposing to have with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Garda Commissioner to discuss the National Drugs Strategy; the results or action taken as a result of such meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12475/08]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Both the Gardaí and the D/JE&LR are represented on the National Drugs Strategy Team (NDST), which is, in fact, currently chaired by the Garda representative on the Team. The NDST meets regularly to discuss the implementation of the relevant actions in the Strategy. In addition, the Gardaí and the Probation Services are represented on the Drugs Task Forces and this ensures that issues can be addressed as they arise at local or regional levels.

At the Inter-Departmental Group on Drugs (IDG), which I chair, the Gardaí, the D/JE&LR and the Prison Service are represented and provide regular reports at the quarterly meetings.

With regard to the new National Drugs Strategy, the Deputy should note that the Gardaí have two representatives and the D/JE&LR has one representative on the Steering Group established to oversee the development of the new Strategy. The representatives – along with the others on the Group — will be playing a significant role in the development of the new Strategy over the coming months.

Finally, it is also envisaged that meetings with both organisations will be held as part of the consultation process being undertaken for the new Strategy.