Deputy John Curran I move: that Dáil Éireann: notes that:

— individuals, families and communities throughout the country have been devastated by illegal drugs;

— drug-related harm consistently clusters in communities marked by poverty and social inequality;

— drug-related deaths in Ireland are at the highest figure ever, increasing from 431 in 2004 to 736 in 2016;

— new drugs appear regularly on the illicit market, while familiar drugs such as cannabis are becoming more potent; and

— too many people are living with the daily nightmare of drug-related intimidation and violence;

further notes:

— the significant increase in drugs offences recorded by An Garda Síochána;

— the increase in the value of drug seizures from €29,706,281 in 2016 to €71,859,695 in 2017;

— that not all drug users are addicts and there has also been a significant rise in casual and occasional drug use;

— that cocaine use in Ireland increased by 32 per cent in 2017;

— that Ireland is one of six European countries where crack cocaine abuse has increased in the past five years;

— that every cent spent on illegal drugs funds organised crime; and

— the reduction in the number of Gardaí assigned to drug units;

agrees that:

— the importance of a public health approach to drug and alcohol misuse is paramount;

— there is widespread concern that the partnership approach, which has been at the heart of drugs strategies since 1996, is now in danger of collapse;

— community participation and interagency working is crucial to an effective response to an increasingly complex and challenging drugs problem;

— there is apprehension and frustration at the failure of Government to meet commitments on community involvement;

— investment in drugs task forces has stagnated in recent years with an increase of 1.7 per cent since 2015 compared to 28 per cent in overall health expenditure; and

— there is a need for comprehensive services in prevention, detoxification treatment and rehabilitation; and

calls for:

— the Government to act as a matter of urgency to restore confidence in the national drugs strategy;

— the Taoiseach to appoint representation at a senior level from the Department of the Taoiseach to the National Oversight Committee of the national drugs strategy;

— an increase in the level of funding for drugs task forces and treatment services;

— action to be taken against open drug dealing on city streets;

— the strengthening of criminal law against the use of children in drug trafficking;

— increased investment in the Garda Juvenile Diversion Programme; and

— a major education and information campaign to be undertaken on casual drug use.”

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