Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Health if there is a scheme available to compensate community reps for attending drugs task force meetings which are often held during working hours and that many community representatives have to take time off work to attend; and if so which drugs task forces operate it and the fee payable to those attending meetings on behalf of their community. [38195/12]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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The Local and Regional Drugs Task Force Handbook, which is available on my Department's website, outlines the supports available for Community Sector representatives on Drugs Task Forces. The operational or administrative budgets of Drugs Task Forces include provision for the travel, subsistence expenses and family care costs of Community Sector representatives who attend regional, national and network meetings as part of their Task Force role. In relation to fees payable, the underlying principle governing the membership of the Drugs Task Forces by community representatives is that they do so on a voluntary basis. Therefore, payments by way of salary, fee payments or loss of earnings or for giving up their own time to attend meetings are ineligible for funding.