asked the Minister for Health the ten most common drugs of abuse in this country and the steps, if any, he has taken to improve the situation.

I am unable to give this information in the form requested by the Deputy. The returns made available by the Garda and other sources is collated under generic headings, such as opiates and barbiturates and these describe a considerable number of drugs. According to the information available to me, the substances most commonly abused in this country are cannabis, opiates and barbiturates in that order.

I have recently made a series of orders and regulations the effect of which was to bring the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1977 fully into operation as from 1 May 1979. The controls now applicable under the Act provide a comprehensive and more flexible system for dealing with various aspects of the problem of drug abuse.