Mary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the witnesses for their contributions, which have been very useful, and for their time and the work they do daily. I might begin with the opening statement from the Irish Prison Service.

It is really stark that over 70% of those in custody are struggling with addiction. That is heartbreaking when one thinks of the young lives that are being destroyed and how people exit education at 14 years of age. I have read the drugs strategy 2023-2026 and in many respects the service presents the ideal opportunity or ideal incubation space to test drug treatment, drug rehabilitation, addiction treatment and addiction rehabilitation and recovery. When I read the drugs strategy, I did not see a funding budget associated with it. Was a budget identified to fully implement the strategy? If so, has the service secured and been provided with that budget by the Department of Justice?