Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 28 Nov 2002

Vol. 558 No. 3

Written Answers. - Drug Courts.

Seán Crowe

Question:

162 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his plans to extend the remit of the drug court to Tallaght in the near future; if he will make a statement on the drugs court; and his views on whether it has thus far been a success. [24083/02]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

The 1997 programme for Government included, in the context of measures to combat the drugs problem, a recommendation for the creation of a drug court system which would involve court supervised treatment programmes for less serious drug related offences.

A drug court planning committee was established in early 1999 to develop an integrated cross service strategic plan involving court supervised treatment programmes as an alternative to custodial sentences. The committee,inter alia, recommended the establishment of a pilot project to provide the information necessary to address their terms of reference. The committee undertook to reconvene when an evaluation of the pilot project was available to address all outstanding matters from their terms of reference and report thereon.

The pilot drug court programme was launched by the Courts Service in the Dublin District Court on 9 January 2001 for a period of 18 months. The first sitting took place on 16 January 2001.

The pilot programme was evaluated by expert consultants who have reported to the Courts Service Board on the operation of the pilot scheme. The board has recently forwarded the report and their recommendations to me. I will now look at the question of how best to take the matter forward including the possibility of referring the report back to the drug court planning committee. The merit of extending the Drug Court programme to other locations will be considered in that context.