Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I encourage community representative involvement in the task forces. I mentioned this earlier but I think it is relevant to what the Deputy is describing now too. The values and principles document is for every level of government too. It is agreed at a national level but it is relevant here too. That is an agreed document for engagement between the statutory, community and voluntary sector. It could be put on the table in the situations the Deputy describes.

Our role at a national level is often about joining the dots. With SICAP in particular, we have a good overview of the various services in a community. I have been talking to my officials about this and, at a national level, this is what we do to make sure everyone at the table is aware of the various options available to them in the battle against the damage that drugs are doing to communities. While it is in another Department, I have to mention the community employment drugs rehabilitation scheme, because the work it is doing is amazing across the country. I wanted to give it a mention because I have seen what it does and it is amazing.

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