Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate that it is not the Minister's decision. As I understand it, the Garda Commissioner has committed to that review and, as the Minister said, we will get a report from him on it.

I want to raise two other two issues. First, in regard to schools, I welcome the support of the Department of Justice in progressing the issue. There was a recommendation and a belief that three schools – St. Brigid's, St. Patrick's and St. Joseph’s national schools - would be moved from DEIS band 2 to DEIS band 1 but that is under appeal. I appreciate that this does not come under the remit of the Minister for Justice but I would appreciate any help she can give on that. She has made progress on it today in terms of an email from her office to help on that.

The second issue relates to the HSE, which carried out a review of addiction services in Louth and Meath that was finished in 2020. Guess what? It will not give me a copy of the review and will not publish it. When I make a freedom of information request, what happens? It will not even answer. The HSE will not answer a freedom of information request in respect of a review of addiction services in Louth and Meath. That is disgraceful and unacceptable. It is not the Minister's responsibility, but it is my job to make sure the review is published. I have to raise the matter here in the Dáil. What is happening is embarrassing, particularly in view of the context of the drug problem in the Louth and Meath area.

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