Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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228. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide update on the national substance misuse strategy, with specific reference to any deliberations on the introduction of a minimum price of alcohol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9808/14]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Government has approved an extensive package of measures to deal with alcohol misuse to be incorporated in a Public Health (Alcohol) Bill. These measures are based on the recommendations contained in the Steering Group Report on a National Substance Misuse Strategy, 2012. The package of measures to be implemented will include provision for minimum unit pricing, regulation of the marketing and advertising of alcohol, regulation of sports sponsorship, structural separation of alcohol from other products in mixed trading outlets and labelling of alcohol products.

The other measures (eg for the HSE, professional bodies etc) set out in the Steering Group Report on a National Substance Misuse Strategy, were endorsed by Government and are to be progressed by the relevant departments and organisations. The HSE has responsibility for implementing a number of recommendations and this is reflected in the HSE Service Plan for 2014.

Work on developing a framework for the necessary Department of Health legislation is continuing. A health impact assessment, in conjunction with Northern Ireland, has been commissioned as part of the process of developing a legislative basis for minimum unit pricing. The assessment will study the impact of different minimum prices on a range of areas such as health, crime and likely economic impact. The study should be finalised by the end of Quarter 2 this year.