Staffing shortage at drugs group criticised

The NACD is now outsourcing all of its work to private consultants, and is currently in the process of commissioning research on psychoactive substances sold in head shops and other outlets.

Criticising the situation, Daithi Doolan of anti-drugs umbrella group, Citywide, said the organisation had no researchers of its own and now had to pay consultants to carry out its work.

He said when tackled on the situation, former junior minister John Curran said the situation was a result of the recruitment ban.

Mr Doolan said this was simply not good enough.

"They are hiding behind the moratorium on recruitment," he said.

"We have the situation where funding is being cut and bodies cannot operate because of no staff and no money. The moratorium is another cut." A spokesman for the NACD said they expected a research post would be advertised shortly.

Mr Doolan said with all the hits it had taken, it appeared as though the National Drugs Strategy (NDS) was no longer on the agenda.

Funding for young people at risk had been cut by 33%, he said. He said there had been cuts across the board in taskforces, regional groups and prison link workers, and all of this trickled down to front line services. Mr Doolan also expressed alarm at the Government’s decision to leave the NDS without a junior minister to implement it.

Former minister of state with responsibility for the NDS, John Curran is now the Government’s new chief whip and was not replaced.

Mr Doolan said Citywide had requested an urgent meeting with new minister, Pat Carey, to seek his backing for a full-time junior ministry.

Meanwhile it emerged that six months after the new NDS has commenced, a key recommendation still has not been implemented.

According to the new strategy document, families should be involved in supporting recovering drug users.

It recommends that a pilot short-stay respite programme for families of problem drug users should be developed.

According to the department, in excess of €31 million will be made available this year to the taskforces for the ongoing implementation of their strategic plans.

Overall, this represents a reduction of 11% in the funding provided in 2009.

The reduction in 2009 over 2008 was of the order of 8%.

Source: Jennifer Hough, The Irish Examiner, 19/04/2010