Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 5: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the stage the public consultation process for the new national drugs strategy is at; when and the location where public meetings will be held to develop proposals for a new national drugs strategy to cover the period 2009-16; the number of written submissions that have been received to date; when he expects this process to be concluded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12445/08]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The steering group for the new national drugs strategy, chaired by my Department, is currently finalising details of a comprehensive public consultation process, which will be undertaken over the coming months. Consultants, to assist the group in its ongoing work, are also in the process of being recruited and it is expected that they will be on board from next week.

The steering group has held two meetings to date. At its second meeting, a broad outline of the consultation process was agreed and it is envisaged that it will comprise the following: a series of 15 public consultation meetings around the country to be undertaken in late April to early June; meetings with the relevant Departments and Government agencies — it is expected that these meetings will be completed by early June; meetings with key sectoral representatives and organisations, including the community and voluntary sectors; and a series of meetings with appropriate focus groups including, for example, problem drug users, young people at risk and new community groups.

The steering group is meeting again next Monday when it is expected to sign off on the timetable for the public meetings, which it is envisaged will be held on various dates between 22 April and 3 June. The times and locations of these meetings will be advertised in the national and local press in the coming weeks once the details have been finalised. The Deputy should note that I hope to attend as many of the public consultation meetings as possible. It is envisaged the steering group will meet with the Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to hear its views on the new strategy.

In response to the call for public submissions on the new strategy which was advertised on 26 February, 11 written submissions have been received to date. However, I expect that number to significantly increase over the coming weeks as I am aware that many organisations are consulting widely with their constituent elements to facilitate comprehensive submissions.

I am sure the Deputy will agree that the consultation process being proposed for the new drugs strategy will be very broad and comprehensive. In all, I expect the process to be completed no later than the end of June or early July.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Will the Minister of State say how many consultants will be employed and how money will be spent by the Department? I want to know how much the consultants will be paid. I was going to ask the Minister of State to come before our committee and listen to its recommendations as well. Whatever about the committee, it is very important that the Minister of State, his Department, the steering group and the consultants who are appointed, listen and learn from the last process. There are many people to be considered, some of whom are happy while others are very dissatisfied as regards the way the money was spent in the last round. I am hoping that people will be listened to, particularly those who know what is happening on the ground.

There is no point in listening to consultants because they are citing recommendations in reports. We do not need consultants because all they do is move recommendations between one report and another. We need to talk to people on the ground, the families who are affected and who know what is actually happening. I hope that much of this money will not be going to consultants but will be spent by people who know what is happening. How much money will be going to consultants? How many consultants are being employed? I am glad to hear the Minister of State is to meet the community groups on the ground because that is where we can learn.

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

One consultant group will do the lot. I have had no involvement in this initiative. Officials within my Department went through the usual process. I am not yet in a position to say how much is the cost of the consultancy. It involves not just reviewing the state of the present strategy but listening to what people have to say, in public consultations and so on. I shall be more than happy to provide the exact figure. I agree with the Deputy, and I do not want to spend more than is necessary on consultants' reports. Nonetheless, this is a very wide-ranging issue and we need to get it right. We are talking about a strategy which will stretch from 2009-16. From talking to groups in the Deputy's part of the country last week, it is clear that issues such as the pervasive problem of alcohol arise regularly. I am very anxious that the whole issue of alcohol and illegal drugs misuse be incorporated as far as possible into the one strategy. Listening to groups I meet with, I believe they are amenable to that approach. I am very anxious to have detailed consultation with Members of the Oireachtas because their insight is not available elsewhere. I am anxious to engage in such consultation before the summer break.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I hope the Minister of State will go abroad to see what is happening in other countries because it is important that we learn from them. I hope the group will go abroad and that we will learn how the United Kingdom and other European countries are dealing with the problem.

A cross-party committee was set up to consider the abuse of alcohol and its sale in shops and off-licences and a report was given to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. When will the report be published and will it come before the committee for discussion in order to determine what can be done to curb the over-supply and abuse of alcohol?

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

On the question of examining what is happening in other jurisdictions, the eight Administrations participating in the British-Irish Council met in Kilmainham a few weeks ago and discussed drugs and alcohol. I was in Copenhagen and Helsinki prior to St. Patrick's Day and met a number of organisations involved in combating the misuse of drugs and alcohol. Ireland is probably as good as, if not better than, some jurisdictions in this regard.

I understand the report on alcohol has been given to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Preparations are being made to draft legislation. I will inquire from the Minister as to when it is likely to be published.