Dr Des Corrigan, chairman of the National Advisory Committee on Drugs, also revealed his own budget has been cut by 23% this year. He warned the State would pay more in the long term if drug users were not in treatment and reverted back to drug use and crime.
The Irish Examiner revealed last week that the Government was cutting funding to drug task forces by a further 15% in the second part of this year. Community representatives and task force chairpersons described the cuts as "an attack" on communities.
"I would have a concern for frontline services for drug users and their families," said Dr Corrigan. "They are the most vulnerable sections of the community. If they are hardest hit that will rebound in future years.
"People that should be attracted into treatment services, if they are not attracted, the community will pay more in health and policing in the longer term."
He said some already in treatment may slip through the net because local supports may not be there.
"If they slip through and return to drug use, they may start committing crimes and we will loose gains made over the last 10-15 years."
Dr Corrigan said the committee had its own budget cut by 23% this year.
There is an interim director and the key post of research officer is vacant. He said major studies will have to be "postponed".
Several people close to the committee have criticised the abrupt manner in which research officer Dr Gemma Cox was let go and said the body had been left "quite crippled" by her absence. It is understood Dr Cox had positive performance reviews over her four years, but her contract was not renewed on the orders of the Department of Finance.
Minister of state John Curran said there were "a number of obstacles" in terms of the staff embargo, but said he envisaged an expanded role for the committee. On the cuts, he said total funding for task forces would only drop slightly, from €34m to €32m.
Source: Cormac O’Keeffe, The Irish Examiner, Monday 18th 2009
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