The DROP (D�n Laoghaire Rathdown Outreach Project) had provided addiction counselling services for anyone presenting with cocaine problems but recently had to inform clients that they could no longer offer this service. "We'd been seeing people with cocaine issues. But we can't afford to keep doing that. We're awaiting Euro75,000 funding to set up a dedicated service for cocaine users. Until then, it's a matter of hanging on until we get the money for the programme, " said Ruth McClaughry, manager at the centre. Although DROP has not officially begun its cocaine programme, it had been providing counselling to people who presented looking for help concerning use of the drug.

When contacted by the Sunday Tribune, the junior minister with responsibility for drugs at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Pat Carey, confirmed there had been a delay in the initiation of the cocaine treatment programme at the centre: "In April 2006, the DROP project was approved funding of Euro75,000 for the development of a community-based cocaine programme three evenings a week to deal with people with problematic cocaine and/or poly-drug use.

However, the programme did not start within the envisaged timescale as DROP had to carry out essential safety works on their premises and this work was not completed until April 2007."

A conference on cocaine use at Croke Park on Thursday was told that some people using the drug intravenously had been forced to have their arms and legs amputated as a result. Funding of Euro421,000 for six specific projects and a further Euro400,000 to fund pilot cocaine projects has been allocated under the National Drugs Strategy, according to Carey. In response, Anna Quigley of the umbrella organisation Citywide, which represents 28 treatment centres across Dublin, said this was "not enough".

"While we welcome this funding, we have to remember that this is a real crisis situation, " said Quigley.

She said millions of euro are needed to deal with cocaine abuse in Ireland.

COCAINE IN FIGURES
900%: increase in Irish cocaine addicts seeking treatment today since 2000 Euro65: price of cocaine per gram on the Irish market, one of the lowest prices in Europe
14%: the percentage of people presenting to 28 Dublin drug treatment centres with cocaine addiction as main problem in 2005
62%: the percentage in 2007 3: Ireland's ranking in the highest cocaine use per capita in Europe table
1200%: the increase in cocaine seizures between 1995 and 2003 Euro100m: the approximate value of cocaine bought in Ireland annually 3: the number of cocaine drop-in clinics that will be open by the end of the year in Cork, Dublin and Galway