Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As the Senator knows, the Government is committed to diverting people in the process of drugs to the health service. That is our aim. Recommendation No. 17 from the citizens' assembly stated that drug possession should remain illegal. Our health diversion scheme is in line with this but, again, we are waiting - I think it is imminent - to hear from the Garda on the health diversion scheme. The DPP has also worked with us on it. Under our own remit, we have recruited nine SAOR practitioners around the country. We as a Department are ready. We have nine support, ask and assess, offer assistance and refer, SAOR, practitioners around the country to work on this health-led approach with those people who are found with a small amount of drugs. They will lead that health-led approach. We are waiting for this. Mr. Walsh might want to come in on this because he has been very much involved in it as well. We feel it will happen quite quickly.