Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 112: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of drug-related parent support groups here; his plans to increase the number; and his views on supporting new parent support groups. [16735/09]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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Family support has been identified as a priority under the National Drugs Strategy (NDS) and many drugs projects that are funded by my Department include such support as part of the wider range of services that they provide. Some 36 projects in Local and Regional Drugs Task Force areas focussing particularly (but not exclusively in some cases) on family support issues have been approved funding of approximately €1.2m for the first 6 months of this year. Furthermore, my Department funds the Family Support Network on an annual basis to facilitate its on-going development. The funding helps the Network to develop local family support groups around the country in a co-ordinated way, and to promote opportunities for networking between them. It also assists in improving links and partnerships between the families of drug users and others involved in the implementation of the Strategy.

During the consultation process for the NDS 2009-2016, and in particular the public meetings, the need to strengthen family services was consistently highlighted. I am conscious that the Steering Group currently finalising the new Strategy is very aware of the need to engage and support families. The Group is due to report to me in the next few weeks and I will be presenting proposals to Government as soon as possible. The issues raised also reflected many of the recommendations of the Report of the Working Group on Drugs Rehabilitation. The implementation of that Report — which included five recommendations in respect of the role of families in the rehabilitation process — is likely to remain a priority under the new Strategy.

By way of information, the Deputy should also note that an indicative allocation of €1.7m has been approved under the Dormant Accounts Fund to develop once-off initiatives aimed at improving services for families of drug misusers in Drugs Task Force areas. I expect the specific proposals will be advanced over the coming period.