The Government has abandoned whole communities to the drug crisis. Yesterday, it reduced the overall budget for drug and alcohol task forces by a shameful 25%. I am a director of an addiction service in Clondalkin and I know the devastating effect this is going to have. The cut will have a negative and immediate effect on some of the most disadvantaged communities. In the area where I grew up, there is not one person - be it a particular individual, a neighbour, a family member or a friend - who has not been affected by addiction. Funding for addiction services was butchered during the austerity era but there is no excuse doing that now. What is the excuse? The country is awash with money. The cuts are nasty and cynical. I believe that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael absolutely despise working-class communities. There is no other reason they would do this to them – none whatsoever. I demand that the funding be restored immediately because everybody has the right to recover from addiction and to be given every chance. The Ministers opposite let down working-class communities; that is the truth.

Shocking.

You let them down.

That is an outrageous statement.

Excuse me, but the Member has the right to raise an issue without being interrupted. I call the Tánaiste.

And I have the right to reply.

Exactly.

I was genuinely rising to my feet to try to give a constructive reply, because I doubt there is a family, and certainly not a political party in this Oireachtas, that has not been impacted by addiction. I can tell the Deputy that there are many people in my party, his and all others, who have lived with addiction, have loved ones with addiction or go home to addiction. Therefore, let us not be-----

A 25% cut. Come on.

I will deal with that constructively. I will even work with the Deputy on it, but I will not stand for the suggestion that only the people he represents are affected by addiction. It is a scourge in so many parts of society, causing pain for so many who deal with it in family life. Addiction is not a party issue at all.

The Deputy did raise a legitimate issue, however, which is what I wanted to start by saying. The drug and alcohol addiction task forces do excellent work. I am aware of the work they do in my constituency - right across Wicklow. I will speak to the Minister of State, Deputy Murnane O’Connor, about this to see what can be done to support the task forces in the context of what is a massive budget for the health service overall. I will ask her to meet the Deputy specifically on this issue. Also, I will be happy to engage with him directly.

The budget is a pittance overall. In Europe-----

I am happy to try to help.

I represent many working-class communities on the northside, so I do not accept the Deputy’s analysis at all.

The Deputy is standing over a budget that cut €3 million-----

I do not accept the Deputy’s analysis. I am happy to go with him to working-class communities on the northside any time he wants.

Deputy Ó Muirí, you are using up your time.