Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1045. To ask the Minister for Health if the mid-term review of the national drugs strategy will provide for a clear and urgent response to drug related intimidation, debt and violence; and if the revised strategy will include a strong commitment to putting in place the long-term and sustainable economic initiatives that are required to address the issue. [10580/21]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The national drug strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery, sets out government policy on drug and alcohol use until 2025. The strategy outlines an integrated public health approach to drug and alcohol use, focused on reducing the harms for individuals, families and communities and promoting rehabilitation and recovery.

The strategy contains 50 actions for delivery between 2017 and 2020. The implementation of the actions is monitored though the national oversight structures, supported by the coordinated system of monitoring, research and evaluation set out in the strategy.

The strategy is a dynamic process and provides the flexibility to introduce new measures after four years to address issues that emerge during that period. The Department is currently undertaking a mid-term review of the 50 actions contained in the strategy.

The strategy contains a number of actions to address the impact of drug-related crime and intimidation on communities, involving An Garda Síochána and community and voluntary groups. Action 42 is to strengthen the effectiveness of the Drug-Related Intimidation Reporting Programme. The Programme, developed by the National Family Support Network and An Garda Síochána, provides a framework to allow reporting of an incident of intimidation to a nominated inspector. Additional resources have been provided to raise public awareness of the programme. The Department of Health has supported the National Family Support Network to fund a Drug Related Intimidation (DRI) Training Coordinator. As well as providing training, the coordinator will undertake an analysis of supports available to service users who have been impacted by DRI nationally.

The Department of Health is also supporting the Drug-Related Intimidation & Violence Project (DRIVE) with the Drug and Alcohol Task Forces and the HSE to establish the nature and extent of intimidation and build the capacity of service providers in communities to understand and explore options available to services users.

I am very aware that criminal activity and an active illicit drug market can create an intimidating and frightening environment for families and communities. I expect the mid-term review of the strategy will consider whether further measures are required to address this problem.

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1046. To ask the Minister for Health the way in which the mid-term review of the national drugs strategy will address the limitations of the health diversion programme that is currently being developed by his Department and which will continue to criminalise possession of drugs for persons caught more than once or twice in some circumstances, that is, those persons with the most serious drug problems. [10581/21]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The national drugs strategy provides an integrated public health response to substance use. It contains 50 actions to be delivered over the four year 2017-2020. The strategy is a dynamic process, with the flexibility to introduce new measures to address issues that emerge.

Action 36 in the strategy is to consider alternative approaches to the possession of drugs for personal use and to make recommendations on policy options. The action was completed in 2019 with the publication of the report of the working group. On foot of the report, the Government agreed to adopt a health-lead approach to drug use, known as the health diversion programme. There are two components to the programme whereby a person in possession of drugs, determined by An Garda Síochána to be for personal use, on the first occasion would be referred by An Garda Síochána on a mandatory basis to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for a health screening and brief intervention. On the second occasion, An Garda Síochána would have discretion to issue an Adult Caution.

The Programme for Government states that the health diversion programme is an important step in developing a public health approach to drug use. The programme will connect people who use drugs with health services and a pathway to recovery, avoiding a criminal conviction, which can have far-reaching consequences for people, particularly younger people. A review of the programme will take place following the first full year of implementation to ensure that it is meeting all of its aims.

I intend to make the implementation and review of the health diversion programme a key action in the national drugs strategy for the period 2021-2025. I expect to shortly announce the commencement of the programme on an administrative basis in a number of locations. I encourage all stakeholders to work with me and the Department to implement and to review this public health approach.