Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 34: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the actions she is taking to address the serious issues of alcohol misuse as identified in a child welfare case and highlighted in the report of the Independent Child Death Review Group as a factor in multiple cases; her liaisons with the Department of Health in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33391/12]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Report of the Independent Child Death Review Group highlights in the most serious way our national problems with alcohol and drug abuse. The report highlights a significant number of individual cases where alcohol and drugs were prevalent in the home, and the devastating impact of drug and alcohol misuse on children and young adults, both through their own direct use and as a result of parental use. Some of those described in the report themselves sought release in alcohol and drugs.

I am committed to working with Minister Roisin Shortall and the HSE on progressing a fresh approach to identifying and addressing the hidden harm posed by substance misuse.

In February 2012 the Report of the National Substance Misuse Strategy Steering Group, was launched. The focus of the Steering Group was on alcohol and it was charged with identifying actions that could be used to deal with the harms caused by alcohol misuse. The Steering Group was drawn from relevant Departments and agencies, medical professional bodies, the community and voluntary sectors and the alcohol industry. Its report is a roadmap for the future direction of policy to deal with the use and misuse of alcohol. I continue to proactively support efforts to tackle alcohol misuse both directly with Minister Reilly, Minister of State Shorthall and their officials and through my participation in policy development and oversight in relation to this major public health issue at Government and in the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy.