Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 20: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress in terms of implementing the recommendations of the report of the Working Group on Drugs Rehabilitation including the establishment of a national drug rehabilitation implementation committee, and the appointment of a senior rehabilitation coordinator, 10 regional rehabilitation coordinators and support staff. [26633/07]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I very much welcome the publication of the Report of the Working Group on Drugs Rehabilitation. Since my appointment as Minister of State, I have consistently stressed my commitment to the implementation of the recommendations therein. I see the development of a comprehensive rehabilitation pillar in the National Drugs Strategy as being vital to the overall effort against problem drug use.

A commitment to the implementation of the recommendations of the Working Group is included in the Programme for Government and I am already working to ensure that this commitment is fulfilled. The key recommendations focus on:

an effective inter-agency approach based on a continuum of care for the individual (this will involve protocols for inter-agency working, service level agreements, enhanced case management and quality standards);

an expansion of the range of treatment options (including an increased number of residential detoxification beds);

building on the rehabilitative impact of Community Employment Schemes; and

broader life issues including medical support, access to employment, access to education, housing, particular issues relating to the rehabilitation of offenders, childcare, the role of families in the rehabilitation process and research.

As set out in the Report, the HSE will fulfil the lead role in rehabilitation. As part of this role, the HSE will chair the National Drug Rehabilitation Implementation Committee and employ and manage the Rehabilitation Co-ordinators. Meanwhile, a cross-departmental/agency approach is being taken to ensure that the implementation of the recommendations can commence from early 2008 and can be progressed steadily from there.

I am confident that real progress will be made on the implementation of the recommendations of the Working Group on Drugs Rehabilitation in the short term and I look forward to the benefits that this will bring to recovering drug users.