GOVERNMENT NOT DOPEY OVER DRUGS

RYLE DWYER writes in The Examiner,July 15, that the Government is doing
nothing about the drugs problem. He also suggests that we are "persisting
with the same discredited policies that have failed so dismally elsewhere",
although he does not say what these policies are, where else they are being
applied, or make any suggestions as to what alternative approach we should
adopt.

As Minister with responsibility for co-ordinating the development of the
National Drugs Strategy, I wish to take issue with Mr Dwyer's assertions.
This Government is not only fully committed to tackling the problem of drug
abuse but is addressing the wider issue of social and economic exclusion,
of which problem drug use is just one of the symptoms.

The Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion and Drugs has been established
under the chairmanship of the Taoiseach. I report to this Committee on the
implementation of the National Drugs Strategy and the Local Development
Programme.

This Government have committed 273 million in 1997 and a further 282
million in 1998 towards social inclusion measures, already exceeding the
Partnership 2000 target of 525 million over the next three years.

Local drugs task forces have been set up in Dublin and Cork city to develop
local, integrated responses to the drugs problem in the worst affected
parts of these cities. 310 million has been allocated to support the
implementation of action plans prepared by the task forces, which build on
and add value to the programmes and services currently being delivered by
the statutory, voluntary and community agencies in those areas.

In January of this year, the Government announced the Youth People's at
Risk programme. The centre-piece of this programme is the Young People's
Facilities and Services Fund, targeted at young people who are involved or
likely to become involved in drug abuse. The Government have committed 30
million to this programme over the next three years.

A development group has been set up in each task force area to develop
proposals for facilities, amenities and services for young people in order
to divert them away from the dangers of drugs.

The Government propose to conduct a full review of the National Drugs
Strategy before the end of the year, following an evaluation of the local
drugs task forces, which is currently taking place. This review will look
at the lessons learned over the past two years and will examine what
changes are necessary to help the process continue to develop and grow.

I think your readers will agree that this is not the record of a government
which is doing nothing about the drugs problem.

Chris Flood, TD, Minister of State for Local Development, and with special
responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy, Office of the Minister of
State, Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation, Kildare Street, Dublin
2.

Checked-by: (Joel W. Johnson)