asked the Minister for Health the steps that have been taken to implement the recommendations of the ministerial task force on drug abuse with particular reference to the proposed urgent discussions with YEA, HEB, and Cospóir concerning priority for high risk areas.

Each member of the Special Governmental Task Force on Drug Abuse has been given responsibility for ensuring that the recommendations relevant to them are implemented without any undue delay. The task force meets at regular intervals to monitor progress made.

Progress has been made to date with the introduction of the new Criminal Justice Bill, the more rigorous checking of applications for passports by the Department of Foreign Affairs and the development of video films and other educational materials by the Department of Education, in conjunction with the Health Education Bureau, for use within the context of "life skills" type programmes in second level schools, in youth clubs and with parent groups.

Officers of my own Department have already met representatives of the board of St. James's Hospital to discuss the provision of a bed facility for the treatment of drug abusers. They have also met representatives of Jervis Street Hospital about the development of facilities there. A meeting also took place with representatives of the Eastern Health Board and Coolmine Therapeutic Community to discuss the provision of a suitable therapeutic model for the treatment of drug abusers from socially and educationally deprived backgrounds — particularly those in the 12-16 age group. These recommendations are being actively pursued.

The task force have also met representatives of the Medico-Social Research Board and the Youth Employment Agency to discuss how both organisations might contribute in implementing the recommendations relevant to them. Both organisations are currently preparing detailed work programmes for the task force which will be ready in the coming weeks. Meetings with the Health Education Bureau and Cospóir, and indeed with the other organisations mentioned in the Government press statement will be arranged within the next few weeks.

I would like to assure the Deputy that there will be no undue delay in the implementation of the recommendations.

I should like to thank the Minister for his detailed reply. The question relates particularly to the urgency which was expressed in the Minister's statement announcing the recommendations of the task force when he pinpointed a number of places as high-risk areas. One of those was the Ballymun area. Has the Minister received any proposals from the bodies mentioned, the Youth Employment Agency and the Health Education Bureau, relating specifically to Ballymun or to the inner city area or to the Dún Laoghaire ward, all of which are high-risk areas?

The meeting with Cospóir and with the National Youth Policy Committee are due to take place this month, while the meetings with the Youth Employment Agency have taken place already. I will be keeping a very close eye on the situation. I have received a number of progress reports but in the first instance these are being sent to the task force. I assure the Deputy that the areas mentioned by him as well as parts of Cork and Limerick will receive special attention in the context of the proposals.