Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Health his plans for any reform of drug policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39338/12]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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The National Drugs Strategy sets out drugs policy in Ireland for the period up to 2016. Drugs policy encompasses five pillars - supply reduction, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and research and clear actions are in place for implementation. I am satisfied that good progress is being made across the actions of the Strategy, with the involvement of the statutory, voluntary and community sectors, and that emerging issues and threats around problem drug use are being addressed in a timely and effective manner. Periodic reviews of progress across the pillars of the Strategy are carried out through the Oversight Forum on Drugs which I chair.

In the implementation of the National Drugs Strategy particular focus is being placed on Programme for Government commitments in areas such as treatment and rehabilitation. Also a review of Drugs Task Forces is nearing completion and it is intended to build on the impacts being achieved by the Task Forces in the coming years.