Thomas P. Broughan
Question:25 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the progress made to date in the review of the operation of the national drugs strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15908/00]
Other Questions. - National Drugs Strategy.
The review of the national drugs strategy as provided for in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness has commenced. The object of the review is to identify gaps or deficiencies in the existing strategy, develop revised strategies and, if necessary, new arrangements through which to deliver them. The review will identify the latest available data on the extent and nature of problem drug use in the country as a whole, emerging trends in drug use and the areas with the greatest level of problem drug use. It will also examine international trends, developments and best practice models.
Advertisements inviting submissions from individuals and groups were placed in national Sunday and daily newspapers and in local papers in the major urban areas in mid-April. Responses were requested by 26 May. However, on foot of special requests from various groups, I agreed to extend the closing date for receipt of submission to 6 June of this year.
In addition, I have arranged for eight public consultative fora to be held during June, in Dublin, where there will be two, Athlone, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Sligo and Kilkenny. These fora were also advertised in the national and local press. The first of these fora will be held in Cork on Friday of this week.
The review will also have available to it an evaluation of the drugs initiative by independent consultants including the results of individual evaluations of local drugs task force projects currently under way. These evaluations, together with other local, national and international materials, will be reviewed and findings incorporated in the final report.
When does the Minister expect the review process to conclude and recommendations to be made? When are those recommendations likely to be implemented?
The review and the public fora will be completed by the end of this month. At that stage all the written submissions and the findings of the various groups which have met throughout the country will have been received. I hope the final report will be ready by October.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.