Government task force on drug abuse
Gregory and De Rossa asked about the task force’s membership, remit and reporting timetable. Desmond said it would review drug abuse, particularly in Dublin’s inner city, and that the Government would consider its recommendations.
asked the Minister for Health if he will give details of the committee of Ministers of State which, according to media reports, he has set up to deal with the problem of heroin and hard drugs; and if he will make a statement on the membership and terms of reference of the committee.
11.
Comment on this
asked the Minister for Health the action the Government will take to combat the horrific heroin problem in parts of Dublin city, and specifically, in view of the very recent report of the Medico-Social Research Board that over 10 per cent of young people between the ages of 15 and 24 in one north inner-city area are using heroin; and the immediate and specific action that will be taken to assist the community to deal with the problem there.
12.
Comment on this
asked the Minister for Health when the committee of Ministers of State established to deal with the problems of drug abuse is expected to report; and if, in view of the urgency of the matter, he will ask the committee to produce an interim report as soon as possible.
Comment on this
I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 to 12 inclusive together.
The Government have established a Special Governmental Task Force on Drug Abuse because of their concern about the growing drug problem. Its terms of reference 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's report.
The membership of the task force is the Minister for Health who is chairman but I have delegated that to the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy O'Brien, the deputy chairman. The Ministers of State at the Departments of Justice, Deputy Fennell, Education, Deputy Creed, Foreign Affairs, Deputy J. O'Keeffe, Environment, Deputy Quinn and Labour, Deputy G. Birmingham are also members. The first meeting of the task force was on Thursday, 28 April 1983.
On the question of giving assistance to the community in the north centre city area of Dublin, I recently gave £20,000 to the Eastern Health Board for a youth development project in this area. This project will consist of an advisory and educational programme which is being established as a response to the special needs of the children in the area.
As I expect the task force to report in about five weeks, there will not be a need for the submission of an interim report.