Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 March 2004
159 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the structures being put in place to carry out a midterm review of the national drugs strategy in 2004; the time-scale envisaged in carrying out this review; the way in which the community and voluntary sector will be involved in this review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7644/04]
View answerMy Department has overall responsibility for co-ordinating the implementation of the national drugs strategy 2001-2008. The strategy provides that an independent evaluation of the effectiveness of the overall framework will be carried out by the end of 2004.
The strategy was developed following an extensive review process, overall responsibility for which rested with the interdepartmental group on drugs which I chair. The interdepartmental group on drugs established a sub-group — which comprised representatives of key departments and agencies and representatives of the community and voluntary sector — to manage the on-going work of the review. This structure proved very effective and in light of this, I propose putting similar arrangements in place to complete the mid-term evaluation.
The review group, which I intend to establish within the coming weeks — will be constituted along the same lines as the original sub-group and will include appropriate community and voluntary sector representation. The review group will be tasked with developing the terms of reference for the evaluation and I would envisage that independent consultants will be employed to assist them in their deliberations over the coming months.
It is my intention that the review group will complete its work towards the end of 2004 and the findings will be taken on board for the remaining period of the strategy up to 2008.
