Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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750. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the development of a new national drug strategy. [13540/16]

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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751. To ask the Minister for Health if his Department has examined the potential decriminalisation of small amounts of drugs for personal use as a harm-reduction approach to take a public health approach to chronic or recreational drug use. [13541/16]

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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758. To ask the Minister for Health the persons who are advising his Department on a new national drug strategy; and the number of times they have met during 2015 and 2016 [13548/16]

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 750, 751 and 758 together.

Government policy on tackling the drug problem is set out in the National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016. The overall objective of the Strategy is to continue to tackle the harm caused to individuals and society by the misuse of drugs through a concerted focus on the five pillars of supply reduction, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and research. A Steering Committee, chaired by former General Secretary of the INTO John Carr and with representatives from the Statutory, Community and Voluntary Sectors, has been established to advise on the development of a new National Drugs Strategy, which will cover the period from 2017 onwards. The Steering Committee has met 5 times this year and on one occasion in December 2015.

A high level review of the current drugs policy has been undertaken by a panel of international experts, which will highlight the key issues that need to be addressed under the new Strategy. The Committee will also consider the approach to drug policy in other jurisdictions and a review of international evidence on interventions to tackle the drug problem. Supply Reduction, Continuum of Care, Education and Prevention and Evidence and Best Practice Focus Groups have been established to advise the Steering Committee on the relevance of the Strategy in tackling problem drug use in Ireland and to identify any gaps arising. I will shortly be announcing details of the consultation process on the new Strategy, which I intend to be as broad, comprehensive and inclusive as possible.

The Programme for Government contains a commitment to a health-led rather than a criminal justice approach to drugs use. It is envisaged that this approach will be among a range of issues that will be considered by the Steering Committee in the course of developing a new Strategy.

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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752. To ask the Minister for Health the number of needle exchange services in current operation; the number of these services that cater to the needs of under 18s. [13542/16]

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.