Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 138: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the meetings he has had with the Department of Health and Children regarding newspaper reports that state the drug substitute methadone was implicated or used in cases involving the death of drug users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33518/08]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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I have not met with the Department of Health and Children to specifically discuss the reports of methadone being implicated in the deaths of drug users. However, I chair the Inter-Departmental Group on Drugs (IDG), which meets quarterly and on which both the Department of Health & Children and the Health Service Executive (HSE) are represented. All matters relevant to the implementation of the National Drugs Strategy are discussed in that forum.

In this context, the Deputy should note that the HSE provide regular updates to the Group on a range of issues, including a progress report on matters relating to the Central Methadone Treatment List. The issue of methadone deaths was raised at the last IDG meeting, in the context of a presentation on the National Drug Related Death Index (NDRDI), which is being developed by the Health Research Board.

The findings of the NDRDI — which I understand will be published in early November — will be considered by all relevant parties, including the Steering Group established to develop proposals on the new National Drugs Strategy to cover the period 2009 to 2016. This work is currently on-going.