Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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483. To ask the Minister for Health for an update on the work of the steering committee set up to oversee the development of the new national drugs strategy; the names of the members and chairperson of the committee; the number of times the committee has met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16063/16]

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, the Department of Health is developing a new National Drugs Strategy, which will cover the period from 2017 onwards. A Steering Committee, chaired by John Carr, former General Secretary of the Irish National Teachers Organisation and with representatives from the relevant Statutory, Community and Voluntary Sectors, has been established to advise me on how a new Strategy should address problem drug use, including the structures through which this could be done.

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. 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.

Details of the membership of the Steering Committee, which has met 5 times this year and on one occasion in December 2015, are set out in the following table.