Written answers

Tuesday, 26 February 2019

Department of Health

National Drugs Strategy

Photo of John CurranJohn Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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422. To ask the Minister for Health the programmes and projects undertaken to achieve strategic action 1.2.8 of the national drugs strategy, to improve services for young people at risk of substance misuse in socially and economically disadvantaged communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9644/19]

Photo of Catherine ByrneCatherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Strategic action 1.2.8 of the National Drugs Strategy calls for the development of a new scheme to provide targeted, appropriate and effective services for young people at risk of substance misuse, focused on socially and economically disadvantaged communities.

This action falls under Objective 1.2 which aims to prevent the use of drugs and alcohol at a young age. It is intended that this scheme will fund out-of-school interventions (e.g. youth services).

This action was discussed at the Standing Sub-Committee meeting in March 2018, with the committee hearing from the following organisations: CORE Youth Service, Solas Project, Neighbourhood Youth Project 2 and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.

The funding arrangements and details of this new scheme under action 1.2.8 are being developed at present.

I am committed to providing additional resources to enhance service provision under the national drugs strategy. These resources should be directed towards those interventions which are most likely to lead to a reduction in problem substance use and positive improvement in public health, safety and wellbeing.

I will shortly be engaging with task forces and other stakeholders to outline my plans for a new scheme to provide targeted, appropriate and effective services for young people at risk of substance misuse.

Photo of John CurranJohn Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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423. To ask the Minister for Health the dates on which and the attendees of the national oversight committee established to drive the implementation of reducing harm, supporting recovery; the frequency with which the committee has met; if it has made recommendations or published progress reports regarding the implementation of the national drug and alcohol strategy since its publication in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9645/19]

Photo of Catherine ByrneCatherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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The National Oversight Committee (NOC) for the implementation of ‘Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery - a health-led response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland 2017 – 2025’ met on the following dates: 29/09/2017,19/01/2018, 18/05/2018, 14/09/2018 and 18/01/2019. A list of membership of the committee is attached.

A Progress Report for 2018 was developed by the lead agencies involved in the strategy and was discussed at the 18 January 2019 NOC meeting. This report will be published on the Department of Health's website in the coming weeks. The progress report will be reviewed by the Standing Sub-Committee in a structured manner over the course of its meetings in 2019.

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