Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 273: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his plans to review the Drug Treatment Courts following the report of the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General into Drug Addiction Treatment and Rehabilitation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25038/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Drug Treatment Court, which originally operated on a pilot basis in the North inner city of Dublin, has been placed on a permanent footing and extended to the Dublin 7 area. The Court uses a multi-disciplinary approach and involves a range of Government Departments and agencies charged with dealing with various aspects of the problem of drug misuse. The Court operates with the assistance of a team which includes a probation and welfare officer, an addiction nurse, a Garda liaison officer, an education/training representative and counsellors.

A review of the operation of the Drug Treatment Court was ongoing prior to the publication of the recent report by the Comptroller and Auditor General. My Department is examining the operation of the Court having regard to the Exchequer position and officials are looking at best practice elsewhere to see how the Court's throughput levels might be increased. It is intended to conclude the examination over the coming months. My Department will, of course, take cognisance of the report in concluding the review.