Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I am fully committed to helping to significantly reduce the harms caused to families and communities by illicit drug use. While my colleague the Minister for Health leads on policy on drug addiction and recovery, I do recognise that these areas are complex and there is a clear interface between the work of An Garda Síochána and the health and social services in this area.A person with an addiction issue can may also be involved in the sale and supply of drugs, or have close associations with those involved in organised crime. It is well-established that organised criminal groups will exploit vulnerable people and coerce or groom them into being involved in criminality. The three main policy objectives my Department are seeking to achieve in this area are:

• tackling organised crime;
• minimising the harms caused to those with addiction issues;
• and diverting people from involvement in crime and illicit drug-related activity.

The stark reality of drug use in Ireland today means this work is a high priority for my Department.We have a particular focus on targeting the work of organised crime groups, which inflict intimidation and violence on families and communities, while grooming and coercing vulnerable young people into drug-related criminal activity.An Garda Síochána continue to target those involved in street-level drug dealing across the country and also focuses on disrupting and dismantling the drug trafficking networks that impact our communities, and prosecuting those involved at every level, through Operation Tara.

In May, alongside my colleague Minister Murnane O’Connor, I launched the DRIVE (Drug related intimidation & violence engagement) project. DRIVE’s primary goal is to establish effective systems and structures for a unified, timely, and sensitive response to drug-related intimidation. It focuses on responding to incidents, supporting those affected, and preventing future occurrences.

Diverting people, in particular young people, away from involvement in crime and illicit drug-related activity is another significant area of focus in the work of my Department.

The Department of Health together with my Department, the Health Service Executive and An Garda Síochána, are finalising a Health Diversion Scheme.

The Scheme will provide a comprehensive health-led response to possession for personal use, connecting participants with health services and providing a pathway to treatment and recovery where there is problematic drug use.

The Programme for Government endorses the health-led approach and commits to implement the health diversion scheme and to review it after the first full year of implementation to ensure that it is meeting all of it aims and to make any necessary changes.

In addition to the continued rollout of the “Greentown” programme, which seeks to break the link between children who are engaged, or at risk of engaging, with a criminal gang, my Department also funds youth diversion programmes throughout the country.

It is important to recognise that the actions underway in relation to this area must be viewed holistically. No one single policy solution can resolve all the harms caused to society by the use of illicit drugs but a combination of policies that are aligned and coherent can make a real difference for all those affected by the curse of illicit drugs.