Written answers
Thursday, 14 April 2011
Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
National Drugs Strategy
5:00 pm
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 19: To ask the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs the person to whom she has assigned responsibility for co-ordinating policy on drugs. [5809/11]
Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Responsibility for coordinating policy on drugs is at present assigned to the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs.
As the Deputy may be aware, the Government has agreed, with effect from 1 May 2011, to transfer the functions of the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs in relation to the National Drugs Strategy to the Minister for Health and Children.
chris black
Posted on 19 Apr 2011 12:00 am (Report this comment)
This is the burning question for all working in the Drugs Sector and it would appear that this Govt don't see fit to appoint a Junior Minister to be responsible for what is a significant issue facing communities.
It is highly likely that if anyone is appointed then it will be tagged on to another of the junior ministers roles. And what I am also concerned about - and it is a concern that was raised by Eamon O'Cuiv and Johnathon O'Brien,that once transferred to Health,that drugs becomes a health issue, rather than a community issue.
The role of the drugs task forces has been to challenge HSE to ensure an adequate,modern, evidence based,innovative approach is used to tackle the drugs issue, which I would be concerned would be lost under health.
It would have been more sensible to move drugs and drugs task forces under community and local govt, so county plans/responses could be developed and implemented,very much using the partnership,multi-agency approach that is currently being used, and despite criticism, has achieved a number of successes.
There is now also the danger,under health and without a dedicated minister,that funding will not be ringfenced/prioritised for drugs task forces and that drugs, as now a seemingly low priority for the govt ,vital services, provided by the community and voluntary sector will be lost.