Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I want to support what has been said about the drugs issue, in particular the insight given by Senator Ruane about her own experience. Every small town in Ireland is dealing with this issue, as is Dublin. My area is no exception.

It is worth mentioning the late PJ Blake, who died in Letterkenny and was buried this week. He was a town councillor, and all his life he was an advocate for the need to tackle the drugs issue in our small and regional towns. One of his main concerns was the fact that the Garda resources to deal with drugs had been greatly depleted, and that remains the case. Gardaí simply do not have the resources, particularly in rural areas, to deal with this problem. It is now the biggest problem for young people in small rural towns. It is affecting our schools, including one incident in my town in recent weeks which is a cause of concern for all of us. We should have a debate on that issue.

I had a discussion this week with the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Finian McGrath, who has advised me that the Irish Wheelchair Association made no application to his Department for funding to keep the Cuisle centre open. Councillor Tony Ward, who is a member of the HSE forum in Roscommon, has raised this issue. It is time that the Irish Wheelchair Association was called to account on this issue and I appeal to it to apply to the Department of Health and HSE for the required funding because I have been informed that if an application was to be made the Minister would look favourably on it. It is time for truth and clarity to be brought to bear on this issue.