Co-operation urged in tackling drugs

Some regional towns are in denial about their drugs problem, the Dáil was told.

Minister of State Noel Ahern said his department had "not always got co-operation from some towns" which he did not want to name.

He said they "have adopted the attitude that the problem does not exist. Or if it is ignored it will go away. But the only way to tackle a problem is by providing services."

Mr Ahern was responding to Damien English (FG, Meath) who expressed concern that progress in dealing with the drugs problem was "not balanced".

Progress had been made in the city but "the problems are growing worse in the regions, with a report yesterday that deaths had risen 10-fold".

Mr Ahern said the problems had spread to other Leinster towns as evidenced by the recent deaths. That was "what the regional task force plans will attempt to address".

He said seven of the 10 regional task forces had submitted plans, and the first tranche of funding for these would be announced in the next 10 to 14 days.