Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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598. To ask the Minister for Health when he plans to publish the completed national drugs strategy in view of the fact that the previous one ceased in 2016; and if prevention and recovery will have meaningful roles in the forthcoming strategy with matching resources allocated to them [4527/17]

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Government is committed to putting a new National Drugs Strategy in place from 2017 onwards, when the current policy expires. As the Deputy will be aware, a Steering Committee with an independent chair, has been established to advise me on the development of a new National Drugs Strategy.

While the format of the new Strategy has not yet been agreed by the Steering Committee, I very much agree on the importance of maintaining a focus on prevention and recovery in the new Strategy. The provision of resources to support the implementation of the new Strategy will be determined in the context of the estimates process.

I understand that the Steering Committee is continuing with its deliberations and is expected to submit its final report to me by the end of March. I hope to bring my proposals to Government on the new Strategy thereafter.