In the programme for Government, there is a promise to continue to resource harm reduction education awareness programmes to increase awareness of the risks associated with drug use and the contribution of drugs to criminality. I have worked in that area for the past 20 years and there has been a massive increase in drug use and criminality. The people involved are younger and younger. Will the Taoiseach indicate if there will be a structured link between schools and local youth drug services? There is no such link at the moment. Arrangements are ad hoc and a matter for individual principals and schools. They need to be more structured.

Will the community sector be involved in a public awareness programme? We, the people who are involved in tackling drugs and crime in the community, are on the ground. We understand what is happening and when it is happening.

I will work to see can we develop a structured link between schools and youth drug services. The more critical point is that there are very strong self-esteem and self-respect modules of learning within school curricula and programmes to enable young people to be strong enough within their peer groups to resist temptation and being lured into behaviour which is injurious and damaging to them. I am a great believer in inculcating self-respect and self-esteem in young people from the earliest age. That is the best protection we can give our children.

Equally, I am conscious of what the Deputy is saying and it is a serious issue for society. There are measures to deal with the issue in the programme for Government. I am anxious that the school completion programme will come back within the Department of Education and Skills and integrate better with our educational structures. If we maintain children in school longer, we will have a better chance of keeping them from harm.