Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

588. To ask the Minister for Health when the mid-term review of the National Drugs Strategy will be published; and if he will seek prior approval from the National Oversight Committee. [44701/21]

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 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 and contains 50 actions which are to be delivered over the period 2017-2020.

The Department recently completed the mid-term review of the actions in the strategy, in consultation with stakeholders. The review reflects on progress in implementing the strategy to date, progress achieved under the action plan 20217-2020, identifies issues that have arisen including the impact of Covid-19 and sets out strategic priorities for remaining four years of the strategy, 2021-2025. The strategic priorities reinforce the health-focus of the strategy, incorporate the commitments in the Programme for Government, and align with the EU Drugs Strategy and Action Plan 2021-2025.

The Department has reported regularly on the mid-term review to the national oversight committee and a draft report was presented to a special meeting of the committee in June for its consideration. The committee welcomed the findings of the review and the strategic priorities for 2021-2025.

A Memo for Government on the review and the strategic priorities 2021-2025 is before the Government for approval. Publication of the review and supporting documents will follow soon thereafter.

I look forward to working with all stakeholders to implement the strategic priorities for the period 2021-2025 and 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.