Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 87: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the contacts, discussions and meetings he has had with other Departments in 2006 in relation to his Department's role in co-ordinating the national drugs strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22845/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I can assure the Deputy that officials of my Department and myself are in ongoing contact with those involved in the implementation of the National Drugs Strategy.

A comprehensive framework for a co-ordinated Government response to the issue of drug misuse is in place. The National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008 addresses the problem of drug misuse across a number of pillars — supply reduction, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and research — and implementation of the strategy across a range of Government Departments and agencies, together with the community and voluntary sectors, is co-ordinated by my Department.

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.

Moreover, officials of the relevant Departments and agencies are members of the Regional and Local Drug Task Forces as well as the National Drugs Strategy Team. All of these groups meet on a regular basis. The Inter-Departmental Group on Drugs, which I chair, and which includes senior representatives from the Departments and Agencies involved, meets quarterly to discuss progress under the Strategy and to address any issues that arise.

I am satisfied with the present level of ongoing interaction and I am confident that the co-operation on the direction and implementation of the Strategy will continue.