Vol. 534 No. 3
185 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Health and Children the basis on which he has confidence that health boards have the necessary resources to establish drug treatment services in towns throughout the country to deal with legal and illegal substances, especially in areas already affected by tragedies caused by drug abuse. [10681/01]
The provision of treatment for drug misuse is a matter for health boards in the first instance. Each health board has in place co-ordinating arrangements with other agencies and organisations to ensure that in relation to treatment services, emerging needs are identified and responded to. My Department consults with health boards on a regular basis in relation to the provision of treatment services. On the basis of such consultations health boards are funded on an annual basis to put services in place to respond to such emerging needs.
As the Deputy will be aware, in areas where the drug problem is most acute, local drugs task forces have been established to provide a co-ordinated and integrated response. Health boards are represented on these task forces and, in addition, the National Drugs Strategy Team to whom the task forces report is chaired by an official of my Department. This ensures that, in its dealings with the health boards, my Department is fully informed about service needs in particular areas.
