Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 75: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his proposals for a comprehensive independent review of the national drugs strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22738/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Mid-Term Review of the National Drugs Strategy was published in June 2005. This report was the culmination of a comprehensive review, which included extensive consultation with Government Departments and agencies, the community & voluntary sectors and the public in general.

The review was overseen by a Steering Group, chaired by my Department, and made up of representatives of the relevant participants in the National Drugs Strategy, including representatives from the community and voluntary sectors. The Steering Group found that the current aims and objectives of the Drugs Strategy are fundamentally sound. It was confirmed that there are encouraging signs of progress since 2001, when the Strategy was first launched, suggesting that our approach to tackling the drug problem is proving to be effective. At the same time, however, the review highlights the need to re-focus some priorities and to accelerate the roll-out and implementation of various key actions in the remaining period of the Strategy up to 2008.

The actions outlined in the National Drugs Strategy are being progressed with the significant input of other Government Departments and agencies — e.g. the Health Services Executive, Dept Health & Children, Dept Education & Science, Dept Justice, Equality & Law Reform, An Garda Síochána, the Irish Prisons Service, the Customs Service of the Revenue Commissioners and FÁS — as well as the community and voluntary sectors. All these parties are playing important roles in the implementation of the overall Strategy. The structures put in place under the Strategy facilitate the sorting out of any issues that arise in relation to ongoing implementation, the identification of any emerging changes in the nature of the drugs problems facing us and the formulation of responses to such changes.

The National Drugs Strategy runs to the end of 2008. It is envisaged that a further comprehensive review will take place at that stage prior to the formulation of the next phase of Ireland's drugs strategy.