Vol. 512 No. 6
342 Mr. P. Carey asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will consider a drugs court to be set up in the Ballymun area in view of the pilot scheme of drug courts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26807/99]
The House will be aware that the programme for Government listed as one of its key objectives, in the measures to combat the drugs problem, the creation of a drug courts system which would involve court supervised treatment programmes for less serious drug related offences. In accordance with this commitment, I requested the Working Group on a Courts Commission to consider the Establishment of a drug courts system in Ireland and as recommended by the working group, I established a planning committee to prepare for the introduction of a pilot project in the District Court in Dublin.
The report of the Drug Court Planning Committee, which was chaired by Judge Hogan, was received by me in early August 1999 and is currently being considered by my Department. I expect that the report will facilitate the introduction of the drug court pilot programme over the coming months. The establishment of a drug court in the Ballymun area of Dublin is an issue which will be considered in the context of the development of a drug court system in Ireland.
