In view of the fact that traffic in drugs is now running at the rate of approximately £20 million to £25 million per annum and notwithstanding the report from the Special Task Force would the Minister himself, in order to combat the problem, consider pre-empting that report by stating now that centres of detention and rehabilitation could be set up by his Department, particularly in new urban areas where there is an increased incidence of that crime?

Those of us who, over the years, had a particular interest in this area would agree that it is as much a matter of social and public education, of creating, within the community, a very intense awareness of the appalling dangers of public addiction. In that I include anything from alcohol to heroin; they are all addictive drugs. The worst and most appalling drug problem we have in this country, and we should maintain a serious sense of proportion in regard to it, is alcohol addiction. There are 45,000 alcoholics in this country, whereas ——

The Government's tax laws are sorting that out.

It is a serious problem but we must not lose our sense of perspective. We have, in the greater Dublin area ——

We should try to avoid a debate on this question.

——some other hundreds who are involved in other aspects of drug addiction. But detention centres, the Special Criminal Court and the rest will not solve the problem. It will be solved in the homes by parents, in the schools and by young people having an absolute personal awareness of the horrors and dangers of all kinds of drug addiction, from tobacco, to alcohol to heroin.

Deputy O'Hanlon and Deputy R. Burke rose.

There were four more Deputies offering.