Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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302. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the health diversion approach to drugs. [60536/22]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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The National Drugs Strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery, A health-led response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland 2017-2025, sets out a health-led approach to drug use. It promotes a more compassionate and humane approach to people who use drugs, with drug use treated first and foremost as a public health issue. The Programme for Government endorses this health-led approach.

The Government is committed to pursuing a health-led approach for people in possession of drugs for personal use through the health diversion programme. The programme will divert people caught in possession of drugs for personal use, away from the criminal justice system and connect them with health services.

The Health Diversion Programme Implementation group, chaired by the Department of Health, is finalising plans for the commencement of the programme, including legislative amendments and operational procedures. To support the establishment of the programme, the HSE is expanding its capacity to provide SAOR screening and support for people who are found in possession of any drugs for personal use.

In addition, the Department is engaging with the Department of Justice and An Garda Síochána to clarify the legal basis by which people found to be in possession of drugs for personal use can be referred to the Health Diversion Programme.

We cannot be complacent about the risk to health posed by illicit drugs. The Government is committed to a public health approach to drug use, that will lead to better outcomes for individuals and society.