Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 260: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when the new National Drugs Strategy is expected to be launched; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27864/08]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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Work on developing the new National Drugs Strategy is ongoing. A key element of the work to date is the extensive consultation process that is being undertaken by the Steering Group, chaired by my Department, which has been established to develop proposals for the new Strategy.

This has included 15 public consultation meetings and meetings with (i) a number of relevant Departments and agencies, (ii) key sectoral groups, (iii) organisations working in the drugs area and (iv) a number of focus groups aimed at particularly hard to reach individuals. In addition, over 120 written submissions have been received to date.

The consultation process, which I expect will be completed by mid July, is central to the work of formulating a new Strategy. The opinions and views expressed will help to inform the shape and direction of the new Strategy which will cover the period 2009-2016.

The work of the Steering Group will continue into the autumn and I hope to be in a position to make recommendations on the new Strategy to the Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion before the end of 2008, and to launch it shortly thereafter.