Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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535. To ask the Minister for Health the previous membership of the National Oversight Committee on the National Drugs Strategy; and the new proposed membership. [62551/21]

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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536. To ask the Minister for Health the format the promised further discussion on membership of the National Oversight Committee will take. [62552/21]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 535 and 536 together.

The National Oversight Committee gives leadership and direction to support the implementation of the national drugs strategy. The Committee consists of a cross-sector membership from the statutory, community and voluntary sector, as well as clinical and academic expertise.

The Department of Health completed and published the mid-term review of the actions in the national drugs strategy, Reducing Harm Supporting Recovery. Based on the learning from the mid-term review, six strategic priorities for the national drugs strategy for 2021-2025 were identified. These priorities strengthen the health-led approach, reflect commitments in the Programme for Government and align with the EU drugs strategy and action plan 2021-2025.

The oversight structures have been revised to drive the implementation of the strategic priorities for 2021-2025.Strategic implementation groups (SIGs) are being established to support the delivery of the strategic priorities and to reinforce cross-agency collaboration. The National Oversight Committee is being streamlined and includes the chairs of the newly established SIGs. The inter-agency approach involving a partnership between statutory, community and voluntary bodies remains central to the strategy, as does strengthening the resilience of communities to respond to the drug problem. The Department is putting in place a process to nominate members of the strategic implementation groups

I believe that the new structures will strengthen the partnership approach and give a stronger voice to civil society in developing national policy. I am also providing independent leadership to ensure the accountability of all stakeholders and involving service users to provide insights from the lived experience of drug and alcohol addiction.

Previous and new membership of the NOC, is set out in the table.

National Oversight Committee