Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Ruane for raising this issue. The Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, is in the Dáil from 10 a.m. until noon for a Private Members' Bill. I welcome the opportunity to update the Seanad on the Department's engagement with the North Inner City Drugs and Alcohol Task Force to address the governance issues that are preventing it from operating effectively.

Drug and alcohol task forces play an important role under the national drugs strategy in co-ordinating services to assist individuals and families to address drug and alcohol issues in the community. Task forces oversee the allocation of almost €29 million in Government funding. A handbook for governance and operation of task forces is in place since 2011. Task forces are expected to conduct their affairs in accordance with the handbook. Senator Ruane, as the independent chairperson of a drug and alcohol task force, will be familiar with the handbook and appreciate its role in managing the affairs of the task force.

The devastating impact of drugs and alcohol use on the north inner city was acknowledged by the Government with the establishment of the North East Inner City, NEIC, Programme Implementation Board to implement the recommendations of the Mulvey report. The Department of Health chairs the board subgroup on drugs and alcohol use and works closely with local stakeholders, including drugs and alcohol task forces, to improve the provision of drug and alcohol services in the community. The Department co-funded a community needs analysis to identify drug and alcohol issues affecting the local community, in conjunction with the task force. The Department also engaged with the task force on the appointment of a new independent chairperson to drive the work of the task force. It identified the need to broaden the membership of the task force to include all local stakeholders. The Department has sought to work with the task force leadership and membership to address these governance concerns. I support the autonomy of the task force to appoint its chairperson and believe the collective membership is the appropriate entity to appoint a chairperson on a consensual basis. It is important that the membership of the task force is afforded the opportunity to consider these governance concerns and to decide how it wishes to proceed on the appointment of a chairperson.

As Minister of State, I urged the outgoing chair to engage with all members of the task force, community, voluntary and statutory, to consider this matter on a consensual basis. Unfortunately, the task force leadership and members have not been able to resolve the impasse in the appointment of a chairperson of the task force. I note the content of the recent email circulated to local services that states the task force is no longer in a position to function. This follows the resignation of the chairperson and company directors. The Department is concerned by this development, as am I, given our oversight of the task force and the €2.2 million in public funding allocated to projects under its remit. The Department and I will continue to work with stakeholders in the north inner city to establish effective, inclusive and transparent governance of the task force and the funding it allocates. My officials and I are currently engaged in a consultation process with stakeholders on a process to re-establish the task force. I expect to shortly receive a report that sets out the next steps in that re-establishment.

I value the Senator's judgment and opinion. If there is anything we can do to bring all the stakeholders together to try to resolve this issue, my door is open at all times. We might have to take a different approach to try to resolve this because it is an issue that has not been dealt with appropriately in the last few months. I hope we can do that.