Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 714: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a drugs rehabilitation fund has been set up in line with recommendations under the current national drugs strategy; the extent of the financial provision planned for this fund; if the fund is in existence, the way it has been utilised to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28962/08]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 715: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if outreach programmes have been introduced to identify adult educational needs of drug users in rehabilitation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28963/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 714 and 715 together.

The recommendation proposing the establishment of a drugs rehabilitation fund is contained in the Report of the Working Group on Drugs Rehabilitation which was published in March 2007.

This report also calls for the identification and removal of any barriers that might impede recovering drug users in accessing education. I see the implementation of this latter recommendation as a prerequisite for progress in this area and work in that regard is being undertaken by my Department.

The matter of outreach programmes is also the subject of a recommendation in the Working Group report and I have asked my officials to establish what progress has been made in that regard. I will communicate directly with the Deputy when the information is to hand.