Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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391. To ask the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the drugs crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6432/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Government policy on tackling the drug problem is set out in the National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016. The Department of Health is leading the development of a new National Drugs Strategy for the period after 2016 to meet the challenges into the future. The intention over the coming months is to lay the groundwork for a concise and focused policy, placing a clear emphasis on the practical implementation of actions. An examination of the approach to drugs policy and practice in other jurisdictions will help to identify any additional evidence based approaches which might be considered in an Irish context.

The development of the new Strategy will provide an opportunity to have a constructive and wide-ranging public dialogue on our current drug policies and our approaches to the issue. The Department has established a Steering Group to oversee a review of the current Strategy and develop proposals for a new Strategy including the identification of drugs-specific priorities. This will involve a comprehensive consultation process which will be announced shortly. The issues raised by the Community Sector in the correspondence referred to by the Deputy will be considered as part of that process.