Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 80: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of drugs task forces in place; the areas covered by such; the reports received by his Department from each group; the resultant actions taken as a result of such reports; the liaison or action taken between his Department and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform as a result of such reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8955/09]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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There are 14 Local and 10 Regional Drugs Task Forces currently in place. The locations are listed in the Appendix.

The work of the Drugs Task Forces is overseen by the National Drugs Strategy Team (NDST). The NDST is a cross-sectoral Team with representatives from relevant Government Departments and Agencies, including my own and the community and voluntary sectors are also represented on it.

In addition, a member of the Team acts as liaison person on each of the Task Forces. Through these structures, the NDST addresses and make recommendations on issues arising at local level and receives reports on progress by groups.

The NDST reports to my Department and to the Inter-departmental Group on Drugs (IDG), which I chair. Through these fora, I am kept apprised of the work of the Drugs Task Forces and I receive regular reports and updates from the various players engaged in the National Drugs Strategy, including the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform (D/JELR).

The Deputy should also note that, in the context of the consultation process for the new National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016, my officials and I met with representatives from the D/JELR. In addition, the D/JELR has a representative on the Steering Group established to oversee the development of the new Strategy and, along with the others on the Group, they will be playing a significant role in the development and roll-out of the new Strategy.