Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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1371. To ask the Minister for Health when the date for the citizens' assembly on drugs will be announced. [63038/21]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Consideration is being given to the appropriate methodology for future citizens' assemblies, including one on drugs use. Decisions will be guided by the experience of the Gender Equality Assembly which completed earlier this year.  An independent researcher was appointed by the Assembly to monitor and record, amongst other things, the perceived deliberative quality of the Assembly.  This report, published in July 2021, will assist in decisions on future Assemblies use of virtual meetings.

By their very nature, citizens assemblies require large gatherings to be truly effective. Therefore, there has been an unavoidable delay in the establishment of the next citizens' assembly due to public health restrictions arising from the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The Department of Health continues to liaise with the Department of the Taoiseach on the timing and format of the proposed citizen assembly on drug use. It is envisaged that the remaining citizen assembly, including the citizen assembly on drug use, will be established after the Dublin mayor citizens' assembly has completed its work. The specific timing of each assembly has yet to be confirmed.

The Department of Health's approach to the citizen assembly on drugs use will be informed by the Government's health-led approach to people who use drugs, as outlined in the national drugs strategy. An important component of the health-led approach is the Health Diversion Programme. The Health Diversion Programme offers compassion, not punishment, to people who use drugs and connects them with health services and provides a pathway to recovery, thereby avoiding a criminal conviction. As outlined in the Programme for Government, the programme will be reviewed after the first full year of implementation to ensure that it is meeting all of it aims and to make any necessary changes. This review could usefully inform the deliberations of the citizen's assembly on drug use. 

A strategic priority for the implementation of the national drugs strategy for 2021-2025 is to promote alternatives to coercive sanctions for drug-related offences. This will include the exchange of best practice with EU member states, as part of theEU Drugs Strategy 2021 – 2025.

I believe that a citizen's assembly could usefully consider the learnings from the health diversion  programme and other similar alternatives to coercive sanctions. It could also inform the development of the next national drugs strategy, to replace the existing strategy in 2025.

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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1376. To ask the Minister for Health the additional funding to be allocated to drug and alcohol task forces to implement the actions in the Drug Relation Intimidation and Violence Engagement report as launched on 26 November 2021. [63043/21]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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1495. To ask the Minister for Health if he is considering allocating additional funding to drug and alcohol task forces in 2022 to implement the actions in the Drug Related Intimidation and Violence Engagement report launched on 26 November 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63404/21]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1376 and 1495 together.

In 2019, funding of €180,000 over 36 months was awarded to the DRIVE (Drug-related Intimidation & Violence Engagement) initiative, which includes the cost of recruiting a national coordinator.

The DRIVE Oversight committee leading the initiative comprises of relevant stakeholders from the Regional and Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces, An Garda Síochána, the HSE Addiction Services, Family Support Services, Community & Voluntary services and Probation Services

The DRIVE Project aims to;

1. Develop a data driven community intervention model to build the capacity of communities to respond more effectively to drug related intimidation and violence.

2. Build the capacity of relevant stakeholders in communities to better understand drug related intimidation and violence, its impact on their everyday lives and the potential supports  available to them for an ordered response

3. Develop a mechanism for capturing the nature and prevalence of drug related intimidation and violence at community, regional and national level to informed targeted responses at each level of need

4. Develop sustainable regional and local interagency structures and systems to improve collaboration between the An Garda Síochána and key Community, Voluntary & Statutory stakeholders across Task Force Areas to work together to address DRI at community level

5. Develop an interagency focal point for developing models of good practice, dissemination of evidence informed approaches and awareness raising

I recently launched the DRIVE research report in late November 2021.

Phase 2 of the DRIVE initiative involves the following actions;

1. The recruitment of the DRIVE coordinator to project manage its rollout and dissemination into communities

2. The development of the data collection tool with the Health Research Board.

3. Design training in conjunction with An Garda Síochána, task forces, and people with lived experience and progress to  implementation on the ground

I fully support the work of the DRIVE Initiative to tackle drug related intimidation and violence and look forward to the implementation of the new data-driven community intervention model. I will consider any request for additional resources upon completion and evaluation of phase 2 of the project.

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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1377. To ask the Minister for Health the steps that are being taken to ensure that family support groups across the State will continue to have representation at national level on the National Oversight Committee; and the way his Department will support an organisation (details supplied) in its ongoing work to put a new national network in place. [63044/21]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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1496. To ask the Minister for Health if he is considering taking steps to ensure that the family support groups across Ireland will continue to have representation at national level on the national oversight committee; the way the national family support steering group will be supported by his Department in its ongoing work to put a new national network in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63405/21]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1377 and 1496 together.

The national drugs strategy,Reducing Harm Supporting Recoveryis a health-led response to drug and alcohol use for the period 2017-2025. The strategy is dynamic with the flexibility to adapt to needs that may emerge over the lifetime of the strategy. It is underpinned by a partnership approach between the statutory sector, community organisations, voluntary service providers, service users and Drug and Alcohol Task Forces.

The strategy includes an objective to enable the participation of both users of services and their families:, which is:-

'Promote the participation of service users and their families, including those in recovery, in local, regional and national decision-making structures and networks in order to facilitate their involvement in the design, planning and development of services and policies'. (Objective 4.2)

One of the actions included under this objective is action 4.2.44:-

'Actively supporting frontline services through capacity building measures using evidence-based models of participation in line with best practice'.

In support of this action the Department has provided funding for the organisation referred by the Deputy. This funding ceased following the voluntary closure of the organisation in 2021. The Department remains committed to supporting family support networks and will work with the HSE to provide funding for capacity building measures using evidence-based models of participation in line with best practice to families affected by substance misuse across CHOs.

Reducing Harm Supporting Recoveryestablished a National Oversight Committee to give leadership and direction to support implementation of the strategy. The Committee consists of a cross-sector membership from the statutory, community and voluntary sector, as well as clinical and academic expertise. The strategy outlines indicative membership and provides that the final membership is decided upon by the Minister with responsibility for the National Drugs strategy.

Following the mid-term review of the actions in the national drugs strategy, Reducing Harm Supporting Recovery, new oversight structures to drive the implementation of the strategic priorities for 2021-2025 were established. The new oversight structures are intended to strengthen the partnership approach and give a stronger voice to civil society in developing national policy.

The national oversight committee includes three representatives from the community and voluntary sector, representing Citywide, the National Voluntary Drugs and Alcohol Services and Uisce, the service user organisation. A fourth position remains vacant and a process will be put in place to fill this position.

I am committed to give a stronger voice to civil society organisations in developing national policy, including the lived experience of those affected by drug and alcohol addiction.

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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1378. To ask the Minister for Health if he will restore the two places on the National Oversight Committee that have been removed from the community and voluntary sector effectively leaving the regions without any representation at a national level. [63045/21]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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1497. To ask the Minister for Health if he will consider restoring the two places on the national oversight committee that have been removed from the community and voluntary sector effectively leaving the regions without representation at a national level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63406/21]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1378 and 1497 together.

The national drugs strategy,Reducing Harm Supporting Recoveryis a health-led response to drug and alcohol use for the period 2017-2025. The strategy is dynamic with the flexibility to adapt to needs that may emerge over the lifetime of the strategy. It is underpinned by a partnership approach between the statutory sector, community organisations, voluntary service providers, service users and Drug and Alcohol Task Forces.Reducing Harm Supporting Recoveryestablished a National Oversight Committee to give leadership and direction to support implementation of the strategy. The Committee consists of a cross-sector membership from the statutory, community and voluntary sector, as well as clinical and academic expertise. The strategy outlines indicative membership and provides that the final membership is decided upon by the Minister with responsibility for the National Drugs strategy.

The Department of Health completed a mid-term review of the actions in the national drugs strategy, Reducing Harm Supporting Recoveryand this report was published on 17 November, 2021. Arising from the review, I have revised the oversight structures to drive the implementation of the strategic priorities for 2021-2025.The newly streamlined oversight committee includes representatives of community and voluntary networks, Drug and Alcohol task forces, government departments, and the HSE. There are also an academic expert and a clinical expert on the committee. The most recent meeting of the committee was attended by three representatives from the community and voluntary sector, representing Citywide, the National Voluntary Drugs and Alcohol Services and Uisce, the service user organisation. It is up to each organisation to choose their own representative, whether the person is from Dublin or from the regions. A fourth position remains vacant, following the unanticipated closure of the organisation referred to by the Deputy and will be filled in due course.

In addition to the representatives of community and voluntary organisations, there are two representatives from the drug and alcohol task forces. One of these representatives attends on behalf of the regions, while the other attends on behalf of localities in Dublin, Cork and Bray.

Strategic Implementation Groups (SIGs) were established to support the implementation of the strategic priorities. These new oversight structures are intended to strengthen the partnership approach and give a stronger voice to civil society in developing national policy. The Department wants to broaden and deepen the involvement of community and voluntary groups in the implementation of the strategy. The proposal for the establishment of a civil society group on drugs is one component of this, which is under discussion with the sector. A balance of gender, regional and minority group representation will be a consideration in the establishment of this new entity.

I am committed to the partnership approach and a stronger voice to civil society organisations in developing national policy, including the lived experience of those affected by drug and alcohol addiction. I am happy to encourage regional representation as part of the oversight structures.

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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1379. To ask the Minister for Health when a partnership interagency working group involving all sectors including the community and voluntary sector will be reinstated to recommence the review of the handbook for drug and alcohol task forces; and if he will provide a clear timeline for it to carry out and conclude its task. [63046/21]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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1499. To ask the Minister for Health if he will consider reinstating a partnership interagency working group involving all sectors, including the community and voluntary sector, to recommence the review of the handbook for drugs and alcohol task forces including a clear timeline to carry out and conclude its task; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63408/21]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1379 and 1499 together.

Drug and Alcohol Task Forces play a key role in the implementation of the national drugs strategy, ' Reducing Harm Supporting Recovery'. Action 50 of the strategy commits to ensuring that Task Forces have proper arrangements in place for the selection and renewal of the Chairperson, Members of Task Forces and for having proper procedures in place for addressing conflicts of interest.

The governance and operation of the 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 handbook sets out the following aspects of task force processes:

- Role of the Task Force

- Composition

- Role and Nomination Process of Members

- Supports

- Monitoring/ Evaluation/ Mainstreaming of Projects

The Department set up a working group to revise the Drug and Alcohol Task Forces Handbook in line with Reducing Harm Supporting Recovery and a draft report was prepared. It is anticipated that the handbook will be finalised in conjunction with task forces in 2022.

One of the outputs of this group is a code of governance for task forces in line with best practice in the community, voluntary and charitable sectors. Adherence to the code will require a new regime of governance and documentation for task forces. It is anticipated that task forces will be required to sign up to the Charities Regulator governance code. The code sets minimum standards for the board of a registered charity or limited company to ensure they effectively manage and control their organisation.

I look forward to the finalisation of the revised handbook and code of governance as an important step in strengthening the performance of task forces.

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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1380. To ask the Minister for Health if a commitment will be given that the terms of reference for the civil society grouping will be drawn up in consultation with the National Oversight Committee community and voluntary representatives and will be brought to the full National Oversight Committee meeting for agreement. [63048/21]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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1498. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the terms of reference for the proposed civil society grouping; if he will consider drawing it up in consultation with the national oversight committee community and voluntary representatives and then bringing it back to the full national oversight committee meeting for agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63407/21]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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1500. To ask the Minister for Health if he is considering whether the terms of reference for the civil society grouping will be drawn up in consultation with the national oversight committee community and voluntary representatives before bringing it back to the full national oversight committee meeting for agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63409/21]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1380, 1498 and 1500 together.

The Department of Health completed and published the mid-term review of the actions in the national drugs strategy, Reducing Harm Supporting Recovery on 17 November, 2021.  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) were 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.  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.

Partnership is central to the national drugs strategy and the new oversight structures are intended to strengthen the partnership approach and give a stronger voice to civil society in developing national policy. The Department's intention is to broaden, widen and deepen the involvement of community and voluntary groups in the implementation of the strategy. The proposal for the establishment of a civil society group on drugs is one component of this, which is under discussion with the sector.  The terms of reference, when completed, will be submitted to the NOC.