Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 268: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of persons employed in the national advisory committee on drugs; the job titles in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16530/10]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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The National Advisory Committee on Drugs currently has a staff complement of 3 people - 1 Director, 1 Higher Executive Officer and 0.6 Clerical Officer. Delays arose in relation to the filling of the Research Officer post in the Committee, against the background of prevailing restrictions on recruitment. The approval of the Department of Finance was recently received to fill the post and it is intended that it will be advertised in the coming weeks.

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 269: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress made on the national advisory committee on drugs overview of psychoactive substances sold in head shops which went out to tender in February 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16531/10]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, the National Advisory Committee on Drugs is undertaking a research project in the areas of Headshops and "Legal Highs". The research will look at new psychoactive substances of natural and synthetic origin and the outlets supplying them. The key objectives of the research project are twofold, namely: · to undertake a review of the products concerned in order to establish what they are supposed to contain and what they actually contain and thereby establish the risk factors associated with consumption of these products; and · to provide an overview and analysis of measures taken in other jurisdictions to restrict psychoactive substances.

Following a recent request for tenders, it is anticipated that a contract will be placed with the preferred bidder to carry out the research in early May. It is expected that the findings of the research will be available by the end of July.