Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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37. To ask the Minister for Health the timeframe for publishing the next national drugs strategy; when the Misuse of Drugs Act will be amended to facilitate substances being declared as controlled; the provisions under which ministerial orders and regulations are made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13813/16]

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Health has commenced work on the development of a new Strategy for the period after 2016. This process will involve a comprehensive consultation with key stakeholders and the public on the current national drugs policy and future priorities.

A Steering Committee with an independent chair has been set up to oversee the development of the new Strategy and focus groups are being established to advise the Committee on priorities for the next Strategy in relation to supply reduction, continuum of care, education and prevention and evidence and best practice. It is anticipated that the final report of the Steering Committee will be submitted to the Minister with responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy by the end of the year.

Following a Court of Appeal decision on 10 March 2015 which declared unconstitutional the section of the Misuse of Drugs Act empowering the Government to declare substances to be controlled under the Act, the Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Act 2015 was urgently enacted to recontrol all substances which had previously been declared controlled by Government order.

A further Bill to amend the Misuse of Drugs Act to allow the Government to declare substances to be controlled, including prescription medicines, is currently being drafted and it is the intention to publish before the House rises for the summer.