Written answers
Wednesday, 8 February 2006
Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
National Drugs Strategy
10:00 pm
Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 157: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his views on the dissatisfaction expressed by representatives of the community and voluntary sector over their involvement with the national drugs strategy; the action he will take to re-engage this sector in the strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4370/06]
Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Representatives of the community and voluntary sectors are currently engaged in all areas of the national drugs strategy. As the Deputy is no doubt aware, the community sector representative on the national drugs strategy team, NDST, has recently confirmed his intention to resign from the team. It will be open to the community sector to put forward a replacement representative. Meanwhile, the current community and voluntary sector representatives continue to play a full part in the work of the NDST. There is similar full engagement in the case of the national assessment committee of the young people's facilities and services fund and the interdepartmental group on drugs.
Some dissatisfaction has been expressed by representatives of the community and voluntary sectors over the emerging needs fund of the local drugs task forces. I have already allocated almost â¬850,000 to 15 projects under this fund and further substantial allocations are envisaged.
All those involved in tackling the problems of drugs misuse share the same aims. I am sure that we will address and overcome any issues that arise from time to time so that we can continue to jointly tackle the misuse of drugs.
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