Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 406: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has received correspondence or submissions from a group (details supplied) in relation to drug policy here; his views on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2329/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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A submission has been received in my Department in relation to the Government's drug policy from the group referred to by the Deputy.

In relation generally to the matters raised in the submission, the Deputy will be aware that the Government's overall policy to tackle the drug problem is set out in the National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008 "Building on Experience" and responsibility for co-ordinating the implementation of the strategy lies with my colleague, Mr. Noel Ahern T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.

Under the current national strategy, which sets out a framework for action for the period 2001-2008, drugs policy is being delivered across the four pillars of supply reduction, prevention, treatment and research.

A mid-term review of the Strategy was concluded in 2005. The review, which involved a comprehensive and public consultation process, was overseen by a steering group chaired by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs with representation from the statutory, community and voluntary treatment sectors to reflect the partnership basis on which the Strategy is founded.

The review found that the current aims and objectives of the National Drugs Strategy are fundamentally sound. It also highlighted the need to re-focus priorities and accelerate the rollout of some of the Strategy's actions and, in this context, a number of new actions and amendments were identified, bringing the total number of actions to 108.

Within this policy framework, my Department will continue to develop measures, in consultation with the relevant Government Departments/ Agencies and the Community and Voluntary sectors to ensure that a co-ordinated and integrated response is in place to tackle the drugs problem.