Drug task forces still run by part-timers

THE Government has still not appointed any full-time co-ordinators for the ten regional drug task forces - more than three years after the bodies were set up.

The regional drug task forces (RDTFs) are being run by part-time co-ordinators, many of whom have other full-time jobs in health boards.

And while asked in 2001 to draw up strategies for their areas, it also emerged the regional bodies are only at the early stages of devising plans three years later.

The news comes a day after the Merchants Quay centre in Dublin disclosed that 600 new drug users contacted its services for the first time last year.

According to its annual report for 2003, it worked with a total of 3,331 drug users, an increase of 5% on the previous year.

The Government is currently conducting a mid-term review of the National Drugs Strategy (NDS) 2001-2008, which was launched amid much fanfare in May 2001. According to Merchants Quay director Tony Geoghegan the increase showed “what happens when the Government fails to resource its own strategy”.

However, Noel Ahern, the minister overseeing the NDS, insisted that it was working and was adequately resourced.

He maintained that the increase from 2,000 to 7,000 in the number of addicts receiving methadone since 2001 proved that the NDS was effective.

But RDTFs contacted by the Irish Examiner outlined their problems in implementing the strategy.

“The major point is the lack of full-time co-ordinators. That’s the position here and other regional task forces,” said Nazih Eldin, interim co-ordinator for North Eastern RDTF.

Midland RDTF interim co-ordinator Bill Ebbitt said: “As well as task force co-ordinator, I am also health promotion officer and drug co-ordinator for the health board.

“I might spend two to three days one week on the task force and then not again for three weeks.”

Maria McCully, interim co-ordinator of the Mid-Western RDTF, said there were also no full-time support staff - a situation which was reflected in each of the task forces.

“I still have a full-time job as drugs co-ordinator at health board level. It compromises the time that can be allocated to the task force. If I had staff, they could do some of the work for you,” she said.

The establishment of the regional drug task forces was one of the key recommendations in the NDS.

The bodies were supposed to develop a co-ordinated response, involving state agencies and community groups, to the drugs problem in their area. The bodies were to prepare a development plan for the National Drugs Strategy Team.

More than three years on, though, the regional bodies are still in the early stages of devising development plans.

Willie Collins of the Southern RDTF said that its strategic plan would be completed early next year.

“I would be concerned that we’re half way through the national strategy and we are still at that stage,” Mr Collins said.

Most regional forces also said that funding levels were not adequate.

Mr Collins said the Government indication of €500,000 for each task force in 2005 “certainly wouldn’t make any waves”, as a single project would cost €100,000.

Joe Barry, a lecturer at Trinity College, said the lack of full-time co-ordinators was a major problem.

A spokeswoman for Mr Ahern said the issue of full-time co-ordinators would have to be addressed.

But she said that as the full-time co-ordinators would be health board staff, it was a matter for the Department of Health.

“It will happen sooner rather than later. The minister will be raising it with the Minister for Health.”