Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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240. To ask the Minister for Health the role of the taskforce coordinator. [56359/21]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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The Drug and Alcohol Task Force Handbook sets out the role of the task force coordinator.

The coordinator plays a key role in assisting the task force with developing and implementing its drug strategy. This necessitates taking a proactive role in driving the work of the task force. The coordinator is responsible for ensuring the task force acts in accordance with the Terms of Reference of Drug and Alcohol Task Forces.This involves:

- Co-ordinating the implementation of the National Drugs Strategy in the context of the needs of the region/local area.

- Implementing the actions in the National Drugs Strategy where Task Forces have been assigned a role.

- Promoting the implementation of evidence-based local/regional drug and alcohol strategies and to exchange best practice.

- Supporting and strengthening community based responses to drug and alcohol misuse.

- Maintaining an up-to-date overview on the nature and extent of drug and alcohol misuse in the area/region.

- Identifying and reporting on emerging issues and advocating for the development of policies or actions needed to address them.

- Monitoring, evaluating and assessing the impact of the funded projects and their continued relevance to the local/regional drugs task force strategy.

Task forces have an operational plan that identifies priorities and actions required to best serve the community/area they represent. The role and duties of the coordinator may vary depending on the objectives of the operational plan, as well as the range and volume of drug and alcohol projects they are involved with.

For more detailed information on the role of the task fore coordinator, see www.drugsandalcohol.ie/16412/. The handbook is currently being revised.

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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241. To ask the Minister for Health the publication date of the mid-term review of the National Drugs Strategy. [56360/21]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Minister Feighan published the mid-term review on the 17th November. See here:

www.gov.ie/en/press-release/1dda3-minister-feighan-publishes-mid-term-review-of-national-drugs-strategy-and-strategic-priorities-for-2021-2025/

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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242. To ask the Minister for Health the strategy the HSE and other relevant Departments have been working under in relation to addiction given that the action provided in the National Drugs Strategy concluded in 2020. [56361/21]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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The national drugs strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery, sets out government policy on drug and alcohol use in Ireland until 2025. The strategic action plan for the period 2017 to 2020 contains 50 actions. The implementation of these actions is monitored through the national oversight structures, supported by the coordinated system of monitoring, research and evaluation set out in the strategy.

The mid-term review of the strategy shows significant progress in implementing the action plan for the period 2017 to 2020, with only a small number of the 50 actions outstanding. We have improved access and availability of drug services, especially services for women, people who are homeless and those with heroin addiction. There is a new clinical programme for dual diagnosis and the government is championing an alternative health-led approach for the possession of drugs for personal use.

I have announce six strategic priorities for the remaining years of the strategy until 2025. These will strengthen the health-led approach to drug use, as agreed in the Programme for Government, and align with the EU Drugs Strategy and Action Plan. I will now work with all stakeholders to agree additional actions under these priorities.

The mid-term review is available here www.gov.ie/en/press-release/1dda3-minister-feighan-publishes-mid-term-review-of-national-drugs-strategy-and-strategic-priorities-for-2021-2025/

To support the implementation of the strategic priorities, I provided additional funding of €6m for new health measures in Budget 2020. Details of the funding is available at www.gov.ie/en/publication/001fc-budget-2022-factsheet/