Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 143: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the way in which he targets young people under 18 at risk of drug addiction; the programmes in place to deter young people from experimenting with illegal substances; if the new national drug strategy will make special provision for youths, under 18, and identify their specific needs in relation to education, treatment and rehabilitation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33566/08]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund, which targets 10-21 year olds at risk of drug misuse, a broad range of activities and initiatives are being supported. As the Deputy is aware, the Fund has a strong prevention focus and its aim is to attract young people in disadvantaged areas into facilities and activities and divert them away from the dangers of substance misuse. Of the order of €22m is being provided this year to support the valuable work being done through the Fund. Consistent with the Taoiseach's announcement in May last, arrangements to transfer responsibility for the Fund to the Office of the Minister for Youth Affairs and Children are currently being progressed.

In this context, it should also be noted that I recently announced funding of almost €2.3m for the development of 16 dedicated youth facilities in Regional Drugs Task Force areas not covered by the YPFSF. I am confident that these projects will play an important and ongoing role in diverting young people away from the dangers of drug use.

A number of the projects being run through the Local and Regional Drugs Task Forces also work with under-18s. The type of projects funded range from drugs education workers, prison links workers, counsellors, youth information projects and outreach services. Some of the projects funded are not exclusively for under-18s — rather they encompass family members under family support projects and initiatives run by community drugs teams.

This year, additional funding has been provided to the Drugs Task Forces to facilitate local and regional drugs awareness campaigns to dovetail with the national campaign, focusing on cocaine. These will be particularly relevant to young people as the Drugs Prevalence Survey 2006/07 confirmed that illegal drug usage is predominantly a younger adult phenomenon, particularly among the 15-34 year age group.

In addition to the work of my own Department, as outlined above, there are, of course, a number of programmes and schemes being run by other Departments and Agencies which are aimed specifically at helping the under- 18's. These include:

The Department of Education and Science are ensuring that drugs education programmes are being delivered to all schools as part of the wider social and personal health programmes delivered through SPHE, Walk Tall, and On Your Own Two Feet and the majority of schools now have substance misuse policies in place;

In addition, An Garda Síochána have over 100 Special Projects in place around the country under their Juvenile Liaison service and the Garda Diversion Programmes. These projects work with young people at risk of engaging in crime and substance misuse; and

Primary responsibility for the treatment and rehabilitation of under-18s lies with the Health Service Executive who developed guidelines for the treatment of this age group in 2006. I am assured that all under-18s are prioritised for treatment and that the HSE is working to implement the recommendations of the under-18s Working Group who developed the guidelines.

Finally, in relation to the new National Drugs Strategy, the Deputy will be aware that the work of the Steering Group, charged with developing proposals in this regard, is on-going at present. I am confident that the needs of particular groups, including the under-18s, will considered by them in their deliberations over the coming months.