Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

The report of the steering group on the mid-term review of the national drugs strategy was published in June of this year. The report was the culmination of a comprehensive review, which was launched last year and which included extensive public consultations. The review was overseen by a steering group, chaired by my Department, and comprised representatives of the relevant Departments and agencies as well as the community and voluntary sectors. Assistance was provided by external consultants. The review sought to assess the impact and direction of the strategy at its mid-point and the steering group concentrated on identifying beneficial adjustments to the strategy and highlighting priorities for the second phase up to 2008.

I am pleased the steering group found that the current aims and objectives of the drugs strategy are fundamentally sound. It was confirmed there have been encouraging signs of progress since 2001, when the strategy was first launched, suggesting that our current approach to tackling the drug problem is effective. At the same time, however, the review highlights the need to re-focus priorities and accelerate the roll-out and implementation of various key actions in the remaining period of the strategy up to 2008. In this context, a number of new actions, and amendments to others, have been identified. These changes will strengthen the strategy and enable it to better deliver its aims. Overall, ten of the strategy's 100 actions are being replaced, a further seven are being amended and eight new actions are being taken to address issues such as family support and rehabilitation. With regard to progress, the review found that 49 of the original 100 actions outlined in the strategy are completed or are ongoing, progress was ongoing on a further 45 and considerable progress has still to be made on six actions.

Funding to tackle drug misuse is channelled through a number of relevant Departments and agencies. In this regard, I have responsibility for funding the work of the local and regional drugs task forces, the young people's facilities and services fund and the national advisory committee on drugs. In 2005, I secured an 18% increase on the 2004 allocation and the funds available this year for these activities amount to €31.5 million. Since 1997, the Government has allocated just under €200 million to fund this work. These amounts are in addition to the significant spending of other Departments and agencies, such as the Health Service Executive, the Garda and FÁS, in tackling the issue of drug misuse. All these bodies agreed to deliver a number of actions under the national drugs strategy. In this regard, I am confident that, as the strategy progresses, resources will be made available to implement the actions agreed.

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