I will start with a statistic from the Road Safety Authority, namely, the number of road fatalities in 2017, which was 157. While this was regrettable, it showed a decrease on the figure from the previous year. We know the extent of the campaigns by the RSA. They are high-profile impactful television campaigns. The RSA maintains they make a difference and its surveys suggest adults are affected and influenced by them.

I want to compare and contrast the figure on road deaths with a different statistic, namely, the figure for drug-related deaths. It is not a direct year-to-year statistic because the statistics do not work that way. In the most recent recorded year, the figure for drug-related deaths was 695, which is 3.5 times higher than the figure for deaths on the roads. EUROSTAT published a statistic this morning indicating that the number of drug-related deaths in Ireland is three times higher than the European average. How seriously are we taking the drugs issue?

We know the facts. We know the increase in the rates of drug use in Ireland, especially among young people. We know about generational drug misuse and abuse. We know about the unhealthy relationships Irish people have with drugs and alcohol and the extraordinary damage done to families and communities. We know about the bills in health and crime and we know the links with sexually transmitted illnesses.

The Taoiseach launched the national drugs strategy in Dublin Castle last year. He said all the right things, recognising that the problem was a public health issue and the need to combat the underlying reasons for drug use and for effective intervention. He also recognised the importance of community participation in key decision-making structures. Two recent events highlighted the need for communities to be involved in the decision-making process. While both events took place in Dublin, the issues I am raising concerning drugs are national. On Friday last, the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Bruton, launched an initiative to get specific on prevention and education. A strong recommendation was made highlighting the need for a collaborative and agency approach involving community, youth projects and schools working together as well as listening to young people.

At a conference yesterday at Croke Park, hosted by the north inner city drugs and alcohol task force and the programme implementation board, on drug related intimidation we heard very frank accounts from those who were experiencing intimidation to pay money and attack homes and houses. There was one very frank account of intimidation to carry out a murder and all because of drug-related debt. Even though we see a strong commitment between the community and the Garda division, various surveys have found that such is the fear of reprisal, there are low numbers of people reporting. There is a strong recommendation that there be a multi-agency approach with statutory personnel who could make decisions with the community, linking the community involved in the decision-making process. This would recognise good practice in communities and the wealth of experience and knowledge in them. I ask that we commit to such a collaborative approach, with communities being part of the decision-making process.

I thank the Deputy for raising the two very grave matters of road safety and drug related deaths. We are aware that the number of deaths on the roads and related to illegal drug use runs into hundreds each year. One death is one too many, with people being struck down long before they should be, often in their 20s, 30s, 40s or 50s. The number of road deaths has fallen considerably in the past few decades. Previously, the number had been in the region of 600, but it is now around 150, which is still too many. There is evidence that the number may be rising again this year. I shall outline what is required in that regard. We must continue to support the Road Safety Authority and fund it well to continue its road safety advertisements and other information programmes. We must step up the level of Garda enforcement. There are 600 more gardaí than two years ago. We must ensure some of the extra gardaí are allocated to the traffic corps in order that we will have increased enforcement. We must also focus on legislation. The Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2017 is before the House and I encourage Deputies to support it.

I do not believe it is right to say road and drug related deaths are directly comparable. The phenomenology and reasons behind drug related and road deaths are very different, but the Deputy has made the point well that there are many more people in Ireland dying from drug related issues than on the roads. On what we can do about it, there is the new national drugs strategy which was published just a few months ago and is being implemented. There is also greater availability of naloxone, which is very important in helping to rescue people from an overdose. In time it will demonstrate and help to bring about a reduction in the number of deaths as a result of an overdose because the more available naloxone is to paramedics, key workers or even family and friends, the more people can be rescued from an overdose.

We are reviewing our overall approach. The Minister of State, Deputy Catherine Byrne, has appointed a commission to examine the issue of decriminalisation. It will look at whether we should move away from the current approach of criminal justice to decriminalising minor possession of what are illegal drugs in an effort to move away from a criminalising system to one that may be more health oriented. We also have approval for and are making good progress in putting in place Ireland's first injecting room in Dublin. This will allow people to inject safety and people will know the health benefits and the number of lives that may be saved as a result. I agree with the Deputy that communities must be involved in dealing with such issues and integrated into the decision-making and implementation processes. She is absolutely correct and the Minister of State will take up this issue and run with it.

The one point of comparison is that nobody wants deaths, but where there is a will, something can be done about it and road and drug related deaths can be prevented. I ask myself how much hope and confidence the people who are watching this debate, those who have heard the Taoiseach's reply, those who see what is happening, those with an addiction, their families and communities, those in recovery, community workers, youth workers, counsellors and teachers who are all at the forefront in dealing with these issues will get from what the Taoiseach has just said.

We are rightly horrified by child abuse, but there are young people who are the victims or perpetrators of drug dealing. That is also a child welfare issue.

We know the extent of the cuts - 30% to 37% - since 2008 to projects that are working directly at the forefront. They are now dealing with more complex, difficult and traumatic situations. Most of the task forces agree that they are seeing a doubling of the numbers. The slogan yesterday in Croke Park was "This is not a talking shop". It is time for the talking to stop and for the implementation of the new strategy.

I assure the Deputy that this is something that Government is very aware of and something that Government is very concerned about. The Deputy is right to say that the political will to bring about a reduction in road deaths made a big difference. Although the phenomenality around road traffic deaths and deaths related to drug use is very different, it required some similar things. It required education, political will, legislation and a change in approach and tolerance for certain behaviours like drink-driving, speeding and so on.

We have a national drugs strategy. That is being implemented. I mentioned how the greater availability of naloxone was saving lives and will save more lives into the future. I have mentioned how we are reviewing the approach to criminalisation and whether we should move away from a criminal justice-based approach to one that is about health. I look forward to the report of that body on that.

Regarding task forces, they have had their budgets cut over the years, although in recent years the budget has either been held steady or has been increased in some cases. Certainly, the budget for social inclusion within the HSE has been increased and was increased in the previous budget. We always need to bear in mind when it comes to any of these local implementation bodies, irrespective of whether it is a drug task force, that we need to compare one with the next and see if some are getting better results. We know from so many things in society that more resources do not necessarily mean better outcomes. We need to make sure that we put the resources behind policies and implementation bodies that produce results.