Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 79: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the steps which have been taken by his Department to implement the recommendations in the report of the Joint Committee on Arts, Sports, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs on the treatment of cocaine addiction, with particular reference to the Irish experience. [36829/05]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 92: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his Department's views on the report of Joint Committee on Arts, Sports, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs on the treatment of cocaine addiction, with particular reference to the Irish experience. [36834/05]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 79 and 92 together.

As the Deputies are aware, my Department has responsibility for co-ordinating the implementation of the National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008. Since the mid-term review of the strategy earlier this year, it contains 108 individual actions to be implemented by a range of Departments and agencies.

In this context, I welcome the additional information on the treatment of cocaine misuse provided through the work of the Joint Committee on Arts, Sports, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, which was published last July. The report, which goes into considerable detail on the effects of cocaine and the various treatments for misusers, adds to the existing knowledge base on the misuse of cocaine in Ireland.

I attended at a meeting of Joint Committee on Arts, Sports, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs on 9 November and I broadly welcomed the recommendations contained in the report. I am seeking, in the context of the outcome of the mid-term review of the national drugs strategy, to progress a number of actions that are relevant to the report and its recommendations. However, direct responsibility for the implementation of these recommendations falls under the responsibility of my colleagues, the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Mary Hanafin, and the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney.