Sir, - In reply to Dr Michael Loftus's letter of February 19th regarding my recent announcement of €28 million additional funding for young people at risk, I would like to state that I wholeheartedly agree with his view that alcohol is the most common drug of misuse in this country, particularly among young people.
However, by way of clarification, I would like to point out that the funding package will be targeting the most vulnerable young people in the areas which have suffered most from heroin misuse - the Local Drugs Task Force areas in Dublin, Cork city and Bray.
While alcohol is as much a problem in these areas as it is elsewhere, the level of dependency on other types of drugs, particularly heroin, makes these areas an absolute priority for this unprecedented level of investment in facilities and services for young people.
Ultimately, our aim is to provide healthier, more productive alternatives to drug and alcohol misuse for all our young people. This aim is being addressed through a host of programmes including the massive investment which in developing local sports and recreational facilities throughout the country under the Sports Capital Programme - for which my colleague, Dr James McDaid, is responsible.
I should also point out that in the context of the public consultations on the review of the National Drugs Strategy and the information sessions that followed its launch, alcohol was identified as a major problem throughout the country.
I brought these concerns to the attention of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, and he is currently examining the issue through the new Strategic Task Force on Alcohol. The task force has as part of its brief the formulation of proposals to prevent and reduce alcohol-related harm and I look forward to its report due to be published later this year. - Yours, etc.,
EOIN RYAN TD,
Minister of State
for Local Development
and with special
responsibility for the
National Drugs Strategy,
Dublin 2.