John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)

First, to clarify a number of points, there was a fairly extensive public consultation period. While individual sporting organisations were not contacted directly, many may have attended public meetings. The debates held in the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and in the Seanad all highlighted the issue of sport. Government policy has recognised clearly that the problem relating to drugs is at its worst in areas of high disadvantage and additional incentives have been provided in such areas, by which I mean top-up funding for sports capital programmes from this Department and so forth. Various programmes are in place and I acknowledge fully the importance of sport.

The drugs strategy is now at an advanced stage and further consultations will not be held. However, this strategy is on an interim basis. Arising from the Government's decision of 30 September to include alcohol, a new joint substance misuse strategy will be drawn up and in that regard I will consult specifically, at Deputy Wall's request, with the sporting organisations.

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