Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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757. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the Citizens’ Assembly on drug use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51481/22]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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The Government has established two concurrent citizens' assemblies; one dealing with biodiversity loss and the other with the type of directly elected mayor and local government structures best suited for Dublin. It is proposed that a Citizens’ Assembly on Drug Use and the Citizens’ Assembly on the Future of Education will directly follow these two assemblies, if learnings from the concurrent running of assemblies suggest that this operational model is the best way forward.

In line with this decision, the Department of Health has commenced preparations for the Citizens’ Assembly on Drug Use, and, to this end, detailed discussions regarding the assembly took place at recent meetings of the National Oversight Committee for the National Drugs Strategy.

Officials from the Department of Health have engaged with counterparts in the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to examine how the voices and perspectives of young people on issues regarding drug policy may be collated and presented to the Citizens Assembly on Drug Use. Topics under consideration include an examination of how drug use impacts young people’s lives, and that of their families, friends and communities, as well as their own views on the use of drugs and how young people could be better informed regarding drug use.

These preparations are being undertaken to ensure that there will be no delay in establishing the Citizens’ Assembly on Drug Use when the two existing assemblies complete their work.

It is a strategic priority for the remaining four years of the national drugs strategy to promote alternatives to coercive sanctions for drug-related offences. The Government is implementing the health diversion programme, which offers compassion, not punishment to people who are in possession of drugs for personal use. This programme aligns with the EU Drugs Strategy and Action Plan, 2021 – 2025, which actively encourages Member States to scale up alternatives to coercive sanctions and to monitor and evaluate their effectiveness for drug using offenders and for people arrested, charged with or convicted for drug-related offences or people found in possession of drugs for personal use.

I welcome the contribution of the Citizens Assembly on Drug Use to the government's health-led response to drug use. Drug use affects all members of society, whether directly or indirectly, and imposes very significant social and financial costs. I believe that involving citizens in decision-making on drugs policy is relevant and informative.