Speech by Mr. John Curran T.D.
Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs,
at the opening of the new
Dublin North East Local Drugs Task Force building
Tuesday 17th November 2009 at 12.00 p.m.
42a Malahide Road, Dublin 5
Ladies and Gentlemen (Your Grace, Minister Haughey)
It gives me great pleasure to be here today at the official opening of this building – the new home to Dublin North East Local Drugs Task Force. I would like particularly to thank Tom O’Brien, the Co-ordinator of the Task Force, for extending me the invitation and to George Ryan, the outgoing Chair, for his opening words.
I met the Dublin North East Task Force recently, as I did all the Local and Regional Drugs Task Forces. I was impressed by the strong focus on collaboration and interagency work and I know the Task Force has been very proactive over the years in recognising that provision of services to the most vulnerable in society is a challenge that cannot be met in isolation. This strong interagency partnership understanding is clearly reflected also in your local strategy. I find this particularly heartening as the provision of integrated services for members of the community is identified as a major priority to be addressed in the new National Drugs Strategy.
I must say that I am particularly impressed by the ambitious plans for this building. Drug addiction is a problem that extends far beyond the addict - him or herself - to families, friends and communities. The long-term plan for this new building includes the provision of education, prevention, rehabilitation and vocational services and delivers on your local strategy.
The services being provided will cover the pillars of the NDS. For example, the Task Force has recognised that recovered drug users who have been rehabilitated for some time are also in need of services and the Task Force will endeavour to provide the counselling and support that is so vital to these former drug users.
This will occur in partnership with VECs who will provide training hours to design course modules specifically tailored to individual needs. This co-operation and pooling of resources is most impressive and I am delighted to see such a spirit of teamwork in the local area.
In addition, as part of their efforts to address the problems surrounding drug misusers, the Task Force plans to roll out learning initiatives for grandparents who now find themselves caring for grandchildren whose parents are availing of treatment services or who may be bereaved through overdose or suicide.
Aside from the natural issues in relation to mental and physical abilities, some grandparents now find that they have to re-learn parenting skills, reorganise household budgets and learn new ways of coping with the physical and mental exhaustion that full time parenting in retirement brings.
I recently attended the AGM of the Family Support Network where we discussed this very subject and I would personally urge anybody - parent, grandparent or family member - in this situation to make contact with a family support group. I know the Task Force here is very active in this area and that the support provided is invaluable.
I can never overemphasise the key role of the family as I am very aware of the importance that supportive families play in the rehabilitative process. I’m delighted so to hear that this building hopes to house a family support service in the New Year where parents, grandparents and siblings with family members who have a drug or alcohol problem can come to avail of services tailored to assist them.
Parents of school children will be able to learn about the signs of addiction and what to do when a child has a problem with drugs or alcohol and parents of drug users can avail of therapies and counselling services to support them and learn practical skills such as health and safety, monetary advice and legal aid. As many parents are the sole carers, the aim is also to develop training around dealing with hospital access, and vocation skills and bereavement courses for parents who have lost children due to suicide and overdose. Aligned to this, the Task Force hopes to provide training to siblings around coping when a brother or sister has an addiction –e.g. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy courses.
Education and prevention are also hugely important tools and I know that the Task Force has worked extremely hard to get more information out there in new and exciting ways. Part of this has been achieved through the creation of Uth Magazine which is a youth initiative that encourages young people to get involved in writing their own stories on topics that matter to them. The magazine also touches on addiction specific stories, and I am heartened to see such commitment and enthusiasm from the local young people.
Under the Supply Control pillar, the Task Force ran a successful Dial to Stop Drug Dealing Campaign and worked hard on a Coastal Watch Initiative. I understand also there will be enhanced involvement in the local policing fora going forward.
We are all very acutely aware of the pressures on the public finances and I am confident that my Department can continue to support the Task Force in 2010, as it has done over the years. Ireland’s economic circumstances have changed significantly but the improvement of service provision remains our goal. However, without significant additional resources this will have to be achieved by promoting efficiency in services, focusing on those that can produce real results and fostering interagency working to the benefit of all.
The development of integrated service provision and enhanced inter-agency working between the statutory, voluntary and community services is fundamental to achieving successful outcomes. Again, I will say that I am delighted to see that Dublin North East Drugs Task Force has this ethos deeply embedded in its local strategy and keeps it to the forefront in developing and delivering services.
In conclusion, and before I officially declare the building open, I would like to thank your outgoing Chair - George Ryan – for his commitment and work with the Task Force. I have no doubt that his contribution will be missed but you can look forward to the future under the steerage of Gerry McMahon, your incoming chair. I wish you both every best wish for the future.
I now officially declare the building open and wish all who work, attend and visit here the very best of luck.
Go n-éirí an t-ádh libh!
Thank you.