Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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As outlined in Parliamentary Questions Nos. 2566 and 2567 of 27 July 2021, the governance and operation of Drug and Alcohol Task Forces is set out in a handbook published in 2011. It defines the role of the task forces within the national and local framework required to address the existing and emerging threats from problem drug use.

The Department set up a working group in 2018 to revise the Drug and Alcohol Task Force Handbook in line with the national drugs strategy. A list of dates that meeting of the group took place is attached in tabular form. Work to complete the code of governance for task forces has been delayed due to resource constraints.

The Department is working with task forces to finalise an updated handbook. To assist in this process, the Department is developing a Governance Framework for Drug and Alcohol Task Forces.

I am committed to working with task forces to finalise the new handbook and governance framework. This is an important step in strengthening the performance of task forces to support the implementation of the strategic priorities 2021-25 under the national drugs strategy. 

List of meetings of the ‘Working Group for the Handbook for the Local and Regional Drug and Alcohol Taskforces’