State spends €173m in war on drugs

THE Government has spent almost €173 million on combating illegal drugs over the past eight years, it emerged yesterday.

The figures exclude the financial cost incurred by gardaí and customs in intercepting drugs and the amount spent by the country's health boards in treating addicts.

The data shows that almost €22m has been spent on average every year since 1997 on tackling illegal drugs.

The information, published by the National Drugs Strategy, says that of the €172.8m spent:

€80m has been allocated to the 14 local drugs task forces to implement their plans

€12.8m has been spent on capital projects under the Premises Initiative for Community Drugs Projects

€80m has been allocated to the Young Peoples Facilities and Services Fund (YPFSF)

The YPFSF was set up to attract young people in disadvantaged areas away from drugs into other pursuits.

Under it, 450 projects are being funded, including the construction of purpose-built youth centres in Dublin and Cork.

In addition, 173 youth and outreach workers and 14 sports development officers have been appointed.

A progress report on the National Drugs Strategy (NDS) 2001-2008, published yesterday, shows that a total of 441 projects have been set up in 12 local drugs task forces in Dublin, one in Bray, Co Wicklow, and one in Cork city.

"There are encouraging signs of progress over the period since 2001, which suggests that the current approach to tackling the drug problem is proving to be effective," said Minister of State Noel Ahern, who is responsible for the NDS.

He said there had been an increase in drugs seizures over the period.

"Of particular note has been the big increase in cannabis, amphetamines, cocaine and ecstasy seizures in 2003," he said.

The report stated gardaí and Customs were achieving "considerable success" in relation to the NDS target of increasing drug seizures by 50% by 2008.

In 2003, gardaí seized 5,300 kilos of cannabis resin compared to 380 kilos in 2001, and 107 kilos of cocaine compared to 18 kilos in 2001.

The report said Customs and gardaí participated in 40 joint operations in 2003, along with other European and international agencies, compared to seven in 2002.

Drugs valued at €16m were seized in these operations, including 16 kilos of heroin and 24 kilos of cocaine.

The progress report said there were 7,052 addicts receiving methadone treatment in July 2004, exceeding the target of 6,500.

It said the waiting list had dropped from 428 in 2000 to 273 in 2004.

The vast majority of heroin addicts were in Dublin, with around 12,500 in the capital and around 2,200 outside it.

The report said ten regional drug task forces had also been established.