In regard to the youth and community work which is required in relation to drugs, there have been some developments in Ballymun recently where a subversive organisation, the Provisionals, have organised a number of meetings in the area. I am very concerned about this and I am very anxious that the Eastern Health Board and any other organisations active in the area take steps to ensure that they are not allowed to organise vigilante type activity in the area in relation to drugs. For that reason I am anxious that the recommendation in the task force report that the drug squad be strengthened and that the deliberations between the various bodies such as the Health Education Bureau, Cospóir and the Youth Employment Agency report so that whatever programme is to be introduced into high risk areas will be introduced without delay. Will the Minister give serious consideration to the application from a group in the area, the Youth Action Project, who are dealing in a caring way with the drug problem in the area, seeking funding for a full-time co-ordinator? Some action like that is necessary in the interim period between now and the time the official programme can be implemented. I feel that every possible help should be given to local groups.

This is more than a question.

Yes, but every effort should be made to ensure that local groups dealing in a humane way with the drug problem should be assisted.

The group referred to by the Deputy, the Ballymun Youth Action Group, provide, as the Deputy is aware, an advisory service for local people seeking information or advice on drugs and drug-related problems together with the other various youth services. The group made a submission to the task force seeking funding for the post of co-ordinator. It was decided that the Minister of State, Deputy George Birmingham, should examine the request. The chairman of the task force, my colleague the Minister of State, Deputy Fergus O'Brien, met the group separately and assured them he would do his utmost to have the Minister of State, Deputy George Birmingham, and the Youth Employment Agency give every sympathy and encouragement to their work. The Minister of State, Deputy George Birmingham gave the group a once-off grant of £3,000 and he has asked the YEA to consider the possibility of funding the employment of a co-ordinator. The YEA have now decided that they will await the outcome of the meeting to be convened by the city manager because the task force agreed to examine the situation in Ballymun. As a first step the task force decided that a review of youth services should be carried out for the Ballymun area. It is understood that the city manager agreed in principle to convene such a meeting but a formal response is awaited. As this is basically a youth and community development issue the chairman of the task force gave responsibility to the Minister of State, Deputy George Birmingham, to ensure its expedition. I assure the Deputy that whereas the YEA have decided to await the outcome of the meeting to be convened by the city manager to examine the situation in Ballymun, as soon as they get that review they will consider the situation in Ballymun again.