asked the Minister for Health if, in view of the ever-increasing incidence of alcoholism and drug abuse among our young, he will indicate and outline his plans to alert people to these twin hazards.

The Health Education Bureau is undertaking a multifaceted national programme to alert and educate parents and young people to the dangers of all forms of substance abuse including alcohol and drugs.

One element of the bureau's programme involves the training of teachers, doctors, pharmacists, career guidance counsellors, health board personnel, gardaí and clergy as drug educators. These are available to act throughout the community and particularly in schools. This aspect of the programme is aimed primarily at parents to inform them as to the nature and extent of the problem, equip them to guide their children away from becoming involved with drugs and train them to react appropriately, organising treatment and support if their child has a drug problem.

Young people themselves must be alerted, advised and educated outside the home as to the dangers of drug abuse and the bureau is developing a programme for children based on the school environment. The bureau also organised recently a series of regional seminars on substance abuse specifically for school principals and career guidance counsellors.

The bureau has recently completed the design of a special alcohol education programme for second-level schools. The aim of this programme is to develop a responsible attitude in young people to the use of alcohol. The programme will be made available to schools from the beginning of the next school year.

The House will also be aware that the Government recently established a special Governmental Task Force on Drug Abuse because of their concern about the growing menace of drug abuse. This taks force are to review and report on the question of drug abuse, with particular reference to the inner city area of Dublin. The Government will then decide what should be done to tackle the drug problem based on whatever recommendations are in the task force report.

Though the Health Education Bureau are responsible for alerting people to the dangers, would the Minister agree there are serious problems in the inner city, particularly in relation to children from 14 to 17 years of age, for whom there are no facilities for rehabilitation?

I accept that the current provisions are not adequate. I equally accept there is a serious problem in the inner city area of Dublin. Recent public reports have confirmed that appalling problem. Therefore, we have asked the task force of Ministers to bring forward their recommendations within the next five or six weeks. We have placed a very urgent time scale on it. I stress very emphatically that whereas drug substance abuse, particularly heroin, is a very considerable danger, there is also a major problem regarding young people and alcohol, which is far more serious because of its prevalence in the community. It does not tend to be as dramatically emphasised as heroin abuse.

Has the Minister any plans to provide facilities for the rehabilitation of those in the age group 14 to 17?

I have met the Coolmine representatives and my fellow Ministers and I have requested them to bring forward a programme to alleviate the position as a matter of the utmost urgency.

Is the Minister satisfied that the buildings at Jervis Street are adequate to cater for the needs in this area?

I accept they are not.

Has the Minister any plans?

Part of the review will entail an examination of the current facilities in Jervis Street and the general detoxification facilities which are grossly overcrowded and stretched to the utmost. Part of the review will have to be in relation to the facilities at Jervis Street.