Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 86: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his proposals to expand and develop the drugs court; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34585/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Drug Treatment Court, which originally operated on a pilot basis in the North inner city of Dublin, has been placed on a permanent footing and extended to the Dublin 7 area. The Court uses a multi-disciplinary approach and involves a range of Government Departments and agencies charged with dealing with various aspects of the problem of drug misuse. The Court operates with the assistance of a team which includes the judge, a probation and welfare officer, an addiction nurse, a Garda liaison officer and education/training representative and counsellors. There are plans to extend the Court to the rest of the Dublin Metropolitan District (of the District Court) on a phased basis and discussions with other agencies, including the HSE, are ongoing in this regard.