Byrne criticises 'red tape' around drug taskforces

Local drugs taskforces have the potential to do great work in dealing with the challenge of drug abuse but are increasingly "tied up in red tape and bureaucracy", the Dáil has been told.

Catherine Byrne (FG, Dublin South Central) criticised the Government's efforts to tackle the drugs crisis, and said it could "continue to throw money at the drug problem but the sad fact is that it will only continue to get worse unless the Government acts to catch the criminals and educate our young people about the real dangers of getting involved in drugs".

Ms Byrne acknowledged the efforts of Minister of State Pat Carey "in trying to combat the drug problem through the development of the local drugs taskforces, the young people's facilities and services fund and the national drugs strategy.

"However, these programmes are in place for nearly 10 years, and the drug problem has worsened."

"Local taskforces "have a challenging role which takes in treatment, rehabilitation, education, prevention and curbing local supply.

"However, I often feel that their work can become tied up in red tape and bureaucracy, which shifts the focus from why they were set up in the first place."

Criticising the Department of Education, she said teenagers in fifth and sixth year were vulnerable and were often targeted by drug dealers, yet received no drugs-awareness classes.

Minister for Education Mary Hanafin, responding for the Minister for Justice, said the issue "remains one of the most pressing social problems facing us".

The Government "firmly believes that the co-ordinated and integrated approach involving all the relevant players concerned with the issue in place under the national strategy is the only way" to have real and meaningful progress.

She said drugs law enforcement continued to be a key and successful element.

Ms Byrne raised the issue in an adjournment debate on Wednesday, but yesterday in the Dáil said she was "very disappointed" that the relevant Minister was not there to reply. Tánaiste Brian Cowen said there would be a drugs debate next week.