A NEW website for the Midwest Regional Drugs Task Force was officially launched in Limerick yesterday.
The taskforce is to target and respond to illicit drug use at regional level, in counties Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary.
Deputy Pat Carey, Minister of State with responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy, officially launched the new website and logo yesterday.
"I know that the website will be of great benefit to those seeking information on substance misuse services in and for the midwest region. It has great future potential in providing useful information on publications, news on upcoming events and invaluable information on project opportunities," said Deputy Care.
The new website can be found at www.mwrdtf.ie.
Deputy Carey also launched the National Counselling Institute of Ireland, at a special ceremony at the institute's new premises at the National Technological Park in Limerick yesterday.
The ceremony also marked the announcement of four new professional degree courses, which will get underway in the autumn.
These include BAs in counselling studies and psychometric testing, youth and counselling studies, counselling skills and addiction studies, and adult guidance studies.
The president of the institute, Maria Carmody, said this was an area where there was an increasing demand for professional skills and services to help people of all ages, and these new courses will provide the best educational opportunities for people to train in these specialised areas.
"There is a red alert warning sign across all classes in our community regarding addictions which needs to be addressed.
"Addictions don't just affect individuals, but have a knock-on effect across families, businesses and communities," Ms Carmody said.
Student Sean Conway spoke of his experiences of addiction and how he believed the training on the institute's course was going to make a huge difference in his life and the lives of others.
"I believe something very important is happening in this college, something which will change people's lives for the better," said Mr Conway.
"We will be the new era of highly competent professionals with a degree of understanding in the field unrivalled in any other institution on this island," he said.