Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 422: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the amount it would cost on an annual basis to implement the full recommendations of the report of the working group on drugs rehabilitation published in May 2007. [31181/07]

Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 423: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the amount it would cost on an annual basis to implement the recommendation in the report of the working group on drugs rehabilitation published in May 2007 to establish a national drug rehabilitation implementation committee, and to appoint a senior rehabilitation coordinator, 10 regional rehabilitation coordinators and support staff. [31182/07]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 422 and 423 together.

As set out in the Report of the Working Group on Drugs Rehabilitation, published in May of this year, the HSE will fulfil the lead role in rehabilitation. Their role includes the establishment and chairing of the National Drug Rehabilitation Implementation Committee and the employment and management of Rehabilitation Co-ordinators and support staff.

A cross-departmental/agency approach is being taken to ensure that the implementation of the recommendations can commence from early 2008 and progress steadily from there. It is estimated that the costs involved, across a number of Departments, will be approx. €14m in 2008, rising to €30m for full implementation in 2009.