Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 195: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she is satisfied that adequate services are in place to rehabilitate drug misusers; the policy she has set out for the Health Service Executive in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27137/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The National Drugs Strategy 2001-08 includes 36 actions which fall under the treatment, rehabilitation and risk reduction pillar. The delivery of services under this pillar involves a complex network of statutory and non-statutory agencies working in partnership. The principal agencies involved are the Department of Health and Children; the Health Service Executive, HSE; the Prison Service; FÁS; the probation and welfare service; local authorities; the local drug task forces; and a wide range of community and voluntary bodies.

To address the problem of drug misuse, the HSE provides a wide range of drug addiction services including outreach, education, treatment, rehabilitation and community welfare in line with the actions set out in the National Drugs Strategy 2001-08. Furthermore, the HSE funds and co-ordinates a broad range of services provided by voluntary and community sector organisations. Additional annual funding provided to the HSE for drug treatment services since 1997 amounts to over €55 million. This funding has allowed for the employment of more than 730 staff in the drug addiction services and for the expansion of services including rehabilitation services.

The mid-term review of the national drugs strategy, NDS, has acknowledged the significant progress being made across the 36 actions under the treatment pillar of the strategy. It also recognises the importance of the development of a more comprehensive and interlinked approach to rehabilitation under the NDS. Given the overall importance of rehabilitation for drug misusers in terms of "moving on" and ultimately, reintegrating them into society, it has recommended a fifth pillar of the strategy be established to develop an integrated rehabilitation provision and develop actions to be implemented.

A working group to oversee development of the policy in this area has been established, chaired by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. Membership of the working group comprises representatives of all the key stakeholders. The working group will report to the interdepartmental group on drugs and the Cabinet committee on social inclusion with the appropriate actions to be implemented. I am advised that the HSE is reviewing its existing rehabilitation services so that there is the greatest amount of synergy between both these processes.