Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, to the House on this important issue. We all know that families the length and breadth of the country have been impacted by the drugs crisis. This crisis is impacting on counties, cities, towns, parishes, villages, streets and street corners and young, middle-aged and even older people. It is an epidemic, which Governments throughout the world are struggling to come to terms with. It is important to acknowledge the work of Europol in recent days and the astronomical success it had seizing so much cocaine. Unfortunately, that is on the tip of the iceberg; drugs are all over Europe and the world. This country is no different.

Traditionally, people who were caught with illegal substances were dealt with through the justice system. Slowly but surely, we are seeing a health-led approach, rightly so. When I was member of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice I visited Portugal to see how the Portuguese were dealing with people who had an addiction to drugs and also those caught with drugs on a first offence. They adopted a health-led approach. They put a suite of services around these people, such as addiction counselling, health services and various supports. It was remarkably successful in helping to encourage people off drugs. The system that pertained in this country was a legalistic approach whereby people who were caught with drugs received a conviction. Convictions did not become spent and this could become an issue for anyone trying to go to America or other countries a few years later.

I am glad to say the mindset in this country is moving towards taking a health-led approach. That is largely due to the work the justice committee did under the leadership of its former Chair, Deputy Stanton. The report the committee commissioned was ground-breaking and challenged the system at the time. It was supported by a suite of NGOs that believed the same thing. The problem is the prevalence of drugs in our society and how to deal with it in a more fundamental way. I welcome the proposal to set up a citizens' assembly to engage with citizens from all backgrounds and none on how to frame future policy on drugs. This will probably be the most important citizens' assembly done during the lifetime of this Government. I struggle to understand why there were citizens' assemblies on biodiversity and having an elected mayor of Dublin ahead of a citizens' assembly on drugs.Drugs destroy lives; the Lord Mayor of Dublin does not. While biodiversity is an important issue, the more immediate issue is how to help save our communities from the ravages of drugs.

When can we expect the citizens' assembly on drugs to be established? What will its terms of reference be? It cannot be pigeonholed into the single issue of whether we should legalise cannabis or take other specific approaches. The cannabis lobby is strong and we all have engaged and listened to arguments about medicinal cannabis. That is a separate debate. I want the terms of reference of the citizens' assembly on drugs to be broad and to allow scope to drill down and look at best international practice and how we can bring those good practices in other countries into play in Ireland. I worry that the terms of reference could be too focused and narrow. While they are important, what is most important at this stage is that we get a date for when the citizens' assembly will be established and we will be able to study the terms of reference. Perhaps we could have a debate in the Houses on the terms of reference when they are made available.

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Senator. I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly. I welcome the opportunity to update the House regarding this topic. Senators will be aware that the Department of Health co-ordinates the implementation of the national drugs strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery, which is a health-led response to drugs and alcohol use. We have identified six strategic priorities for the remaining period up to 2025. These priorities reinforce the health-led approach to drug and alcohol use and capture the commitments in the programme for Government. Strategic implementation groups have identified actions to implement the priorities under auspices of the national oversight committee. The groups reflect the partnership approach and give a stronger voice to civil society in implementation of the strategy.

As Senators are aware, the programme for Government includes a commitment to convene a citizens' assembly to consider matters relating to drug use. The Government is committed to establishing the citizens' assembly on drug use, along with a citizens' assembly on the future of education, at the earliest opportunity in 2023 following the completion of the assemblies currently under way. The timelines and terms of reference for the next assemblies will be a matter for the Oireachtas to agree. It is anticipated that the Government will consider the matter early in the new ear, following which motions will be put before Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann for debate, setting out timelines and terms of reference for the new assemblies.

The Department of Health has commenced preparations for the citizens' assembly on drug use and discussions regarding the assembly have taken place at the national oversight committee for the national drug strategy. The Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, is positive about the potential contribution of the citizens' assembly to the Government's health-led response to drug use. Drug use affects all members of society, as the Senator said, whether directly or indirectly, and imposes a significant financial and social cost. Involving citizens in decision-making on drugs policy is therefore appropriate.

There are two issues in particular that the citizens' assembly on drug use could consider. The first is how to better meet the diverse health needs of people who use drugs, while the second is how to prevent the harmful impact of drugs on children, families and communities. It is important to have an international component to the citizens' assembly so there is an exchange of good practice from the British-Irish Council work sector on drugs and the EU drugs strategy and action plan, especially on alternative approaches to coercive sanctions. The voices and perspectives of young people on issues regarding drug policy should also inform the deliberation of the citizens' assembly on drug use. Officials from the Department of Health are engaging with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to undertake a consultation with young people.

Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for giving a specific timeline. I take it the citizens' assembly on drugs will be up and running by the end of quarter 1 2023, which is welcome.I also welcome the suggested potential discussion points that will be in the terms of reference regarding the health implications of drugs on our citizens, and indeed, the implications of drugs on young people and children. They are certainly areas which should be examined by the citizens' assembly on drugs which is now anticipated to take place early in the new year. That is very welcome. I also encourage people with an interest who are watching in today to contact the Minister of Health and write to him with their views, ideas, and suggestions as to what the citizens' assembly should do because this will be a once in a generation opportunity for the people of Ireland to frame drugs policy going forward. That is something that is very welcome and I encourage all stakeholders and citizens to engage ahead of the drafting of the terms of reference. I look forward to debating the timelines, and indeed the terms of reference, in this House when they are published and when the motions are brought before us by Government. Again, I thank the Minister for providing a very specific timeline which is welcome because I know this issue is coming up in Dáil Éireann later on today - or certainly this week. I think we are in a position today in the Seanad to announce that this citizens' assembly will take place early in the new year.

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Senator and assure him of the Government’s commitment and determination to implement the health-led approach to drug use as set out in the national drug strategy. Not only does the programme for Government commit to the citizens' assembly on drug use but it also commits to implementing the health diversion programme for people who are in possession of drugs for personal use. This programme will connect participants with health services, provide a pathway to recovery and allow participants to avoid a criminal conviction. An implementation group chaired by the Department of Health is finalising plans for the commencement of this programme and the HSE is actively expanding its capacity to provide health interventions and support for people who are found in possession of any drugs for personal use. The Minister of State at the Department of Health, with responsibility for public health, well-being and the national drugs strategy, Deputy Feighan, looks forward to the commencement of the health diversion programme which will represent a radical change in how people who use drugs are engaged with by the State.

Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail)
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Go raibh maith agat, a Chathaoirligh Gníomhaigh, agus cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I appreciate him taking the time to address this issue. This is an issue which I also raised as a Commencement matter on 11 May. It concerns two healthcare facilities in north Wexford. One is the opening of the planned primary care centre in Gorey and the other is the case of a building which has being closed for eight years but is still owned by the HSE; that is the health centre based at Camolin, County Wexford.

We have been told consistently about the opening of the primary care centre in Gorey. In fact, 18 months ago the HSE said everything was on track. On the basis of answers it gave then regarding the developer being in place and planning permission and so on, it should have been opened by now. The most recent correspondence I received from the HSE was from 14 October when its representatives said that the project at Gorey was ready to proceed once some parking issues had been removed. I was told on 14 October that everything else such as planning permission and funding was in order. I have since been seeking an update as to what the position is. Gorey in north Wexford, as members know, is one of the fastest growing areas in the country. There is an urgent need for further primary care in healthcare and we had anticipated that this new primary care centre would be open by now. I am hoping the Minister of State will provide an update on the position of this centre in her response.

The second issue I raise concerns the health centre in Camolin. This is a fine building which is owned by the HSE. It was closed amid much local opposition in 2014 and essentially the HSE has done - as far as I can see - nothing about it in the eight years since. It has not been operating as a health centre and it has not been converted to accommodation or for use by community groups. In 2018, the HSE stated it would approach various agencies and if they were not interested, it would put the building on the market. This is, of course, where they did not respond to the interests of locals about taking it over. When I asked the question in May this year, I was told that this was still being done and that the title of the property was being checked. Therefore, eight years after the HSE closed this very fine building and after many queries going in, the HSE was still checking the title. The Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, who took the Commencement matter in May, indicated and agreed with me that it was simply not acceptable that it was taking that long.I sought an update from the HSE on 14 October and 11 November but failed to get a response on what is happening with this closed health centre in Camolin. The HSE said it was going to approach various agencies and, if that did not work, it would put the building on the market. I am not aware of any other local State agencies that have been approached about taking the building over and, as far as I am aware, it is not on the market. Following eight years of closure and complete inaction by the HSE, I hope the Minister of State will be able to impart some knowledge as to what is happening with this building, particularly when, as we know, there is a huge demand for property whether for housing to home displaced persons or refugees, or for community groups or other purposes. The fact that this fine building remains there and the HSE has done nothing about it remains a big concern. I hope the Minister of State will be able to update us.

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, who asked me to thank the Senator for raising the issue and welcomes the opportunity to provide an update to the House on this matter.

The ongoing development of both community and primary care is at the core of the Sláintecare vision to deliver increased levels of integrated health care, with service delivery reoriented towards general practice, primary care and community-based services. The Government is committed to ensuring people are provided with the care they need as close as possible to their homes. Primary care centres offer a tangible example of the investment the Government is making in community-based health infrastructure.

The HSE advises that the new primary care centre in Gorey is currently under development. Floor plans have been agreed, planning permission has been granted and funding has been secured. As the Senator will be aware from previous updates on Gorey primary care centre, the HSE has been engaged in ongoing discussions with the developer regarding the provision of additional car parking spaces. The Minister has been advised that the HSE is continuing to actively engage with the developer on this issue and that the process is almost complete. He is happy to inform the Senator that once this issue has been resolved, this will allow for the developer to progress the delivery of Gorey primary care centre. While he fully recognises that these delays are not ideal, he can assure the Senator that efforts are ongoing to resolve this issue. Overall, the new primary care centre is a welcome and significant development for Gorey and the surrounding area. It will act as a single point of access for health and social care delivery. The primary care team will include GPs working alongside public health nurses and other healthcare professionals, including occupational therapists, physiotherapists and speech and language therapists. This team will also link in with the wider community network services, including dental care and hearing specialists, among others.

With regard to the HSE clinic building at Camolin, County Wexford, which is a former health centre that is currently vacant, this is a detached building on its own site that is owned freehold by the HSE. In line with the ongoing Government initiatives in respect of sourcing suitable properties for use in the provision of accommodation under Housing for All, and also as part of the Ukrainian accommodation response, the HSE has offered the site to the Land Development Agency, local authorities and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The Department of Health and the HSE acknowledge the urgent and important work done in conjunction with other Departments and bodies to source properties suitable for providing accommodation and will continue to contribute to efforts to address the current urgent policy imperatives supporting Housing for All, in addition to the provision of accommodation to Ukrainian refugees arriving in Ireland.

Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State for taking the question. With regard to the primary care centre in Gorey, I note the words used by the Minister of State were that the "process was almost complete", which is the same answer I got previously and the time before that. I do not see why we cannot proceed. I realise there is an issue around parking but if everything else can proceed, let us, for want of a better phrase, park that issue and resolve it separately. We need the primary care centre. The parking issue can be resolved. I do not want to have to stand in the Chamber again next year asking the same question and be told once more the centre is almost complete.

At least, we have some further information regarding the clinic building in Camolin. It is not entirely clear. What looks like has finally happened in the past few weeks is that the HSE is offering this building to house displaced persons from Ukraine. From reading the Minister of State's response, that looks like what is being offered. I would like clarity on that. I am quite happy that the building be used for some purpose. This seems to be what the HSE is indicating will happen.I welcome it if it is the case that at least it is put to short-term use but it is not entirely clear from the answer if this is what is planned, or if it is once again just some form of speculation. It is also not clear that the legal title issue has been resolved.

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I can ask the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, to come back to the Senator to give him specific clarification as I am taking this question on his behalf. On behalf of the Minister, I again thank the Senator for raising this matter. The Minister understands how vital these developments are for local communities across the country. With regard to the vacant clinic building, as mentioned, the Department of Health and the HSE are committed to supporting the work being done to address the urgent need for properties. At the present time, no decision has been communicated to the Department of Health in respect of the use of Camolin health centre.

Investment in primary care services and facilities is an important part of the Sláintecare vision and the development of primary care centres remains a strategic priority for the Government. These facilities provide a single point of access to health services and offer a means of supporting people to live independently in their own communities for as long as possible. Significant progress continues to be made in the development and roll-out of primary care centres and 160 are now fully operational. Thirteen of these have opened this year alone and a further 19 are at various stages of the construction and equipping process, with five of these scheduled to become operational before the end of the year.

The Senator will, I am sure, be aware that Wexford has benefited and will continue to benefit from the Government's investment in primary care. Further to the new primary care centre for Gorey that we have been discussing today, a centre in New Ross is also in the early stages of planning. This is in addition to the four Wexford primary care centres already operational, including a new primary care centre in Enniscorthy which opened this year. I am sure we can all agree that these purpose-built facilities have a key role to play in supporting the health of local communities and in transforming the way we deliver healthcare in Ireland.