Vol. 483 No. 6
446 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the process of consultation, if any, he has initiated with other Departments and State agencies to establish a coherent plan to combat the drugs problem. [21564/97]
452 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the current policy, if any, there is in relation to drug task forces. [21388/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 446 and 452 together.
The previous Government established a Cabinet drugs committee to bring a coherent approach to tackling the drugs problem. This committee, which was chaired by the Taoiseach, gave overall political leadership in the fight against drugs; reviewed all trends in the drugs problem; assessed progress in the strategy in dealing with both supply and demand; and resolved any policy or organisational difficulties which may have inhibited an effective response to the problem.
Recognising the links between social exclusion, drug abuse and alienation, the present Government decided that the most strategic way to tackle the problem of social exclusion was to reconstitute the drugs committee and give it a wider remit encompassing disadvantage in the broadest sense. This committee — which continues to be chaired by the Taoiseach but whose membership has been expanded to include other relevant Ministers, such as Finance and Social, Community and Family Affairs, will link the work being done on local development and the national anti-poverty strategy, as well as the national drugs strategy.
The national drugs strategy team — which comprises representatives from relevant Departments and agencies, as well as persons from the voluntary and community sectors and has responsibility for implementing the Government's drugs strategy, reports through me to the Cabinet committee. The work of the team is overseen by the national drugs strategy policy group, comprising assistant secretaries from relevant Departments and chaired by my Department.
At local level, 13 drug task forces have been set up in the areas identified as being worst affected by the drugs problem. These task forces — which comprise representatives from relevant statutory agencies, as well as the voluntary and community sector — were mandated to prepare action plans to tackle the drugs problem locally in an integrated, coherent manner. The national drugs strategy team is currently finalising recommendations to the Cabinet committee on funding to implement these plans. A sum of £10 million has been provided for this purpose.
The establishment of the structures which I have outlined have, in my opinion, contributed significantly towards the development of a co-ordinated, integrated approach towards tackling the drugs problem.
447 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if he will establish a national drugs commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21565/97]
The national drugs strategy team is currently preparing proposals regarding research into the causes, effects, trends, etc. of drug misuse, and evaluation of different models of treatment. I intend to consider these proposals when finalised, following which I will make a submission to Government on the matter.
