Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Does the senior officials group on social inclusion still exist? My understanding is that group is chaired by the Taoiseach's Department and part of its brief is to maintain a broad overview in regard to social inclusion issues and to bring emerging topics to the attention of the Cabinet committee on social inclusion. Perhaps the Taoiseach will outline its current status in terms of, if it continues to function, when last it met and when it will meet next. The Taoiseach might also state whether developments in regard to the misuse of illegal drugs and the growing dire effect the drugs scourge continues to have on communities comes within its broad remit. Was this group consulted before the cuts which threaten the National Drugs Strategy were imposed?

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