POUNDS 15M BOOST FOR BATTLE AGAINST DRUG DEALERS

DRUG dealers were firmly warned yesterday that the "game is up" as the
Government allocated a further pounds 15m to boost its anti-drug drive.

Junior Health Minister Chris Flood said the Government was determined to do
its utmost to stamp out the drug scourge.

"I want this additional pounds 15m in funding to go back into the work being
done by the local drugs task force groups set up across Dublin, Bray and
north Cork city. These task forces are involved in the fight on the ground
and bring a sense of optimism to their areas," said Minister Flood.

The Government had previously allocated pounds 10m to the task forces to
implement earlier plans, on foot of which over 200 community-based
initiatives are in place.

Among the initiatives put in place on foot of the initial pounds 10m package
were:

* Setting up local information, advice and support centres for drug users
and their families;

* Special projects aimed at children involved at risk of becoming involved
in drugs, including initiatives to keep them in school;

* Training for community groups, teachers, youth workers and other
professionals, to enable them to work with drug users and their families;

* The development of innovative rehabilitation programmes for detoxed or
stabilised drug users.

'DISAPPOINTING'

There are now over 4,000 people seeking drug treatment in the Eastern Health
Board (EHB) area while the board's spending on drug treatment has risen from
pounds 1m in 1992 to pounds 17m in the current year.

Fine Gael justice spokesman Jim Higgins described the initiative as
"particularly disappointing."

Deputy Higgins said: "The drug courts were a key feature in the Fianna Fail
election manifesto two years ago and in the joint programme for Government.
They were supposed to come into operation eight months ago and there is
still no indication of when they will be established."

Key areas set to benefit from the funding are Ballyfermot, Ballymun,
Blanchardstown, Rialto, Inchicore, Bluebell, Clondalkin, Dublin's north and
south inner city, Crumlin, Drimnagh, Kimmage, Walkinstown, Dun
Laoghaire/Rathdown, Finglas/Cabra, Darndale, Kilbarrack, Coolock, Tallaght,
Bray, and north Cork city.