48 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the measures, if any, taken by his Department to deal with the serious drugs problem in the south-east inner city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18656/99]

A number of Government Departments and State agencies are delivering responses to the drugs problem, within their respective areas of responsibility. I have responsibility for ensuring the effective co-ordination of that response, including two initiatives which operate on an inter-agency basis: the local drugs task forces and the young people's facilities and services fund.

Local drugs task forces were set up in the areas where the abuse of drugs, particularly heroin, is most prevalent. One of these areas is Dublin's south inner city. The task forces comprise a partnership between the statutory, voluntary and community sectors and they were mandated to prepare a drugs strategy for their areas to suit local circumstances.