Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Crowe for raising the issue of the challenges faced by drug and alcohol task forces throughout the country. As the Deputy is aware, problem drug use continues to be one of the most significant challenges facing our country and it has become more complex than ever, with a wider range of drugs being abused. In line with the national drugs strategy, the Government is committed to continuing support for initiatives to tackle the drug problem.

I assure Deputy Crowe that every effort has been made to protect the budgets of drug and alcohol task forces in recent years. The overall allocation to drug and alcohol task forces for community based drugs initiatives this year is in excess of €27 million. This is the same overall level of funding allocated in 2015. It is a matter for task forces to ensure that the budget is effectively deployed to address current priorities and locally identified needs.

Following the 2011-12 review of drug task forces, increased responsibilities were given to task forces with regard to addressing the alcohol problem. In light of this expanded role, over €900,000 in additional funding has been made available to drug and alcohol task forces from the dormant accounts fund for substance misuse initiatives. These initiatives aim to promote healthier lifestyle choices throughout society with regard to alcohol by influencing and raising awareness of alcohol harm among the general population and specific risk groups. In addition, through the alcohol forum, training has been provided to a number of task forces in developing local alcohol action plans.

A key strength of the national drugs strategy is that it brings together the community, voluntary and statutory sectors to provide a collective response to the drugs problem. The task force model is a longstanding example of partnership in co-ordinating action at local level on substance misuse.

I am aware that there are many examples of excellent work being undertaken by many task forces across the country in addressing local drug problems. However, there is an onus on all task forces to play their part fully for the model to remain effective. In this regard, it is important that all statutory, community and voluntary stakeholders actively participate in the process.

I firmly believe that task forces should be clear on what is expected of them and that they should be given support to strengthen their capacity to meet the challenges ahead. With this in mind, the Department of Health has commissioned a performance measurement framework for task forces. This framework will provide a means of assessing the drugs situation in local communities so that task force resources can be more effectively targeted at underlying need. I am optimistic that this new framework will help task forces to strengthen their contribution to the new drugs strategy, which will come into force in 2017.

See this speech in context