Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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1454. To ask the Minister for Health the date for publication of the mid-term review of the national drugs strategy. [14280/21]

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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1455. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the mid-term review of the national drugs strategy. [14281/21]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1454 and 1455 together.

The national drug strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery, sets out government policy on drug and alcohol use for the period 2017 to 2025. The strategy provides 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 is a dynamic strategy, monitored through a national oversight structure and contains 50 actions which are to be delivered over the period 2017-2020. 

The Department has commenced a mid-term review of the 50 actions in the strategy, in consultation with stakeholders.  The review will provide an opportunity to reflect on progress in implementing the strategy from 2017 to 2020, progress achieved to-date under the action plan, any new issues that have arisen including the impact of Covid-19 and to consider the development of new actions to address emerging needs and challenges.  It will also reflect commitments in the Programme for Government as part of a health-led approach to drug use and misuse and the EU drugs strategy 2021-2025.

An update on the progress on the review was provided at the National Oversight Committee (NOC) in March.  The final report of the review will be considered at the next NOC meeting in May.

I am committed to working in partnership with all stakeholders to ensure that the actions in the national drugs strategy are relevant and appropriate to address the societal challenges arising from the use of drugs, especially for children and young people and for those at greatest risk of harm.

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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1456. To ask the Minister for Health if he will publish the analysis of supports available to service users by the drug related intimidation training co-ordinator. [14282/21]

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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1457. To ask the Minister for Health if he will publish the analysis of the prevalence of drug related intimidation as conducted under the DRIVE programme. [14283/21]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1456 and 1457 together.

Criminal activity and an active illicit drug market can create an intimidating and frightening environment for families and communities. The National Drug-Related Intimidation Reporting Programme, developed by the National Family Support Network and An Garda Siochana, provides a framework to allow reporting of an incident of intimidation to a nominated inspector. An action of the National Drugs Strategy is to strengthen the effectiveness of the Drug-Related Intimidation Reporting Programme.   

To support the work of An Garda Síochána in addressing drug-related violence and intimidation, the Department of Health is funding two initiatives to raise public awareness of the problem and to support victims, their families and their communities. 

One initiative led by the National Family Support Network is to employ a Drug Related Intimidation Training Coordinator. The Training Coordinator was appointed in October 2020 and has since commenced an initial mapping exercise to identify training needs relating to the Drug-Related Intimidation Reporting Programme. This analysis will be broadened to include non-addiction specific services after this initial mapping is completed. This will then be applied to further inform and enhance the previously developed training for professionals who are working with individuals who are experiencing drug-related intimidation.  

The other initiative led by the Drug and Alcohol Task Forces and the HSE is the Drug Related Intimidation & Violence Project (DRIVE). The DRIVE project is developing an evidence informed Intervention model to support communities to respond to drug-related intimidation and violence. 

The model will include mechanisms for capturing prevalence; informed by work completed by the HRB and other evidenced sources. It is currently at the early development stage which will be followed by a staged implementation plan to accompany the articulated model. This will include: actions, roles/responsibilities, named lead agencies; and outcome measurement processes.  

I welcome the involvement and cooperation of statutory, voluntary and community organisations in addressing drug-related violence and intimidation and I look forward to receiving reports on the two initiatives in due course.