Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 251: To ask the Minister for Health if he will respond to the public health recommendations in the recent report of the strategic response group to build sustainable street level drug services and address related public nuisance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31302/12]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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I welcomed the launch last week by the then Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Andrew Montague, of the Report of the Strategic Response Group entitled "A Better City for All". I note the participation of various organisations in the group and I support their objective of reducing anti-social behaviour in Dublin city centre.

There are 52 clinics within the four Dublin Local Authority Areas of which only 6 are city centre based. The city centre clinics cater for 1,082 people, which is less than a quarter of the overall Dublin figure.

I fully support the development of services in local communities, particularly through GP involvement, but I would point out that 85% of those availing of services in the Dublin city centre clinics are from the local area. Some concentration of services in the city centre is needed as some people wish to avail of services outside their local area. This is the norm in other EU countries. One of the city centre based services is the Drug Treatment Centre Board. It fulfils a more national role in relation to drug treatment generally and also treats people with more complex problems.

HSE clinics, as well as a number of voluntary service providers, have "good neighbour" policies and protocols in place and a strong focus on interagency working. Some provide a range of outreach and drop-in services to encourage engagement with a view to moving more people into treatment. CCTV is used at some centres to monitor movements and as an aid towards deterring anti-social behaviour. Drug treatment centres work closely with An Garda Síochána with the aim of minimising any potential problems.