Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Question 9: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the position regarding the development of the national drugs strategy 2009 to 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2726/09]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 22: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the position regarding the national drugs strategy; when the final report will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2585/09]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 22 together.

A steering group, chaired by my Department, is currently developing proposals on a new national drugs strategy covering the period 2009 to 2016. I expect to receive its proposals and recommendations by the end of March and I will then consider them before seeking Government approval for a new strategy.

An extensive consultation process was undertaken last year on the new strategy. This involved meetings with Government Departments and agencies, the community and voluntary sectors, various interested parties and focus groups as well as an extensive schedule of public consultation meetings at 15 locations across the country. The outcomes of these discussions are being used by the steering group as the basis for much of its deliberations. I anticipate I will be in a position to seek Government approval for the new national drugs strategy in April, with publication to follow shortly thereafter.

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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We are nearing the end of the first month in 2009 and I intended to ask the Minister of State when he expected the strategy to be published, but he answered that in his reply.

I refer to a point raised by Deputy O'Shea concerning widespread access to services under the national drugs strategy among communities in rural areas. I hope such access to services will be highlighted in the new strategy.

Is the Minister of State concerned about the €2 billion cost-saving measures to be agreed by the Government? Does he consider this will result in a cut in funding for the strategy? Will the Government ensure the new national drugs strategy also addresses the issue of alcohol abuse?

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I will take a brief supplementary from Deputy O'Shea.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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The last point Deputy Byrne raised was the one on which I wanted to focus. Will the national drugs strategy focus on polydrug use and, in particular, alcohol use? There have been varying views in the Department about that, but drug abuse and alcohol use are so interlinked that there is no escaping that they must be dealt with together.

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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I will first address the alcohol issue as it has provoked a great deal of discussion. The reality is that alcohol and drug use are closely linked. In terms of the services provided by the statutory agencies, the HSE, clinics and so forth and education programmes, many of them already focus on drug and alcohol use. The exact relationship between the two and how it will be defined in the new strategy has not been clearly identified because the process is not complete. Regardless of that process and the end strategy, there will be a recognition of the role both substances play and there will be syngeries between how we deal with them as that process will have to reflect the treatments currently being provided.

Regarding the budgetary position, there was a reduction in the allocation in this respect under this year's budget. Our Department prioritised the drugs budget. We transferred funds from other subheadings because we recognise the importance of the drugs budget. The allocation of funding to the community initiatives through the task forces in 2009 will be the same as that allocated to them in 2008. That will present difficulties for task forces. I have met many of the chairpersons and co-ordinators and each task force should strategically identify the most important front line services and preserve them in each local area. The funding allocation for 2009 has been notified to them and it will the same as the allocation for 2008.