Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 84: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if he will agree to immediately appoint a Minister with sole responsibility for the national drugs strategy in order to show a public commitment to communities across Ireland, that are forced to live on a daily basis with the ongoing drug crisis, that he is determined to stop the widespread proliferation of illegal drugs into communities here. [8363/11]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 62 and 84 together.

The Government decided to transfer the functions of the former Department for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs in relation to the National Drugs Strategy to the Department for Health with effect from 1 May 2011. The Minister has asked me to take the lead role in this area.

The Government is committed to addressing problem drug use in a comprehensive way, as is clear from the Programme for Government (Government for National Recovery 2011-2016). Our overall strategic objective is to tackle the harm caused to individuals and society by the misuse of drugs through a concerted focus on supply reduction, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and research. The Actions set out in the National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016 facilitate a planned and monitored approach to achieving the overall strategic aims. The implementation of these Actions are being pursued vigorously across a range of Departments and Agencies in conjunction with the community and voluntary sectors. Progress will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.