Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

One consultant group will do the lot. I have had no involvement in this initiative. Officials within my Department went through the usual process. I am not yet in a position to say how much is the cost of the consultancy. It involves not just reviewing the state of the present strategy but listening to what people have to say, in public consultations and so on. I shall be more than happy to provide the exact figure. I agree with the Deputy, and I do not want to spend more than is necessary on consultants' reports. Nonetheless, this is a very wide-ranging issue and we need to get it right. We are talking about a strategy which will stretch from 2009-16. From talking to groups in the Deputy's part of the country last week, it is clear that issues such as the pervasive problem of alcohol arise regularly. I am very anxious that the whole issue of alcohol and illegal drugs misuse be incorporated as far as possible into the one strategy. Listening to groups I meet with, I believe they are amenable to that approach. I am very anxious to have detailed consultation with Members of the Oireachtas because their insight is not available elsewhere. I am anxious to engage in such consultation before the summer break.

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