Local communities, local drug task forces and An Garda Síochána are reporting a huge surge in the use of crack cocaine in communities. Local drug task forces are struggling to deal with this surge and are having to turn people with addictions away from their services due to a lack of funding and a loss of personnel. This crisis in employment in the task forces is because vital personnel are more attracted to the better pay and conditions, and job security, offered by the HSE. This needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency. What plans does the Government have to deal with these important matters?

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. It is a matter of concern and I will revert to the Ministers for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform and Finance in respect of what we can do to support the task forces and what route we can take to provide resources to enable them to retain staff.