THE slashing of 41 State agencies will be a “first installment” in a long term plan of reducing so-called quangos, Finance Minister Brian Lenihan said last night.

A YOUNG heroin addict who claimed she might lose her arms if she did not get treatment for her addiction has been granted bail by Dublin District Court to enable her take part in a detoxification programme.

THERE are almost 7,000 people in Ireland on methadone, a staggering 90% increase since 1998.

A report by the National Drug Treatment Centre has reportedly highlighted a doubling in the use of cocaine in Ireland over the past two years.

TESTING workers and students for drugs can cause problems for employers and schools, the Drug Treatment Centre warned yesterday.