The following information relates to taskforces which have been created by my Department since its inception in June 2002:
Year: 2002
No. of Taskforces Created:
1 Regional Drugs Task Force.
Function:
There are 14 Local Drugs Task Forces and 10 Regional Drugs Task Forces, ensuring that all areas of the country are serviced by a Drugs Task Force.
The 10 Regional Drugs Task Forces were established in the period between Dec 2002 and Dec 2003. Their functions are as follows:
•To ensure the development of a co-ordinated and integrated response to illicit drug use in the region;
•To create and maintain an up-to-date database on the nature and extent of illicit drug use in the region and to provide information on drug-related services and resources in the region;
•To identify and address gaps in service provision, having regard to evidence available on the extent and specific location of illicit drug use in the region;
•To prepare a development plan to respond to regional drug issues for assessment by the National Drug Strategy Team (NDST) and approval by the joint NDST-IDG;
•To develop regionally relevant policy proposals in consultation with the NDST; and
•To provide information and regular reports to the NDST in the format and frequency requested by the NDST.
Size:
Average of 27 members per Task Force.
Membership:
Each Task Force is chaired by an Independent Chairperson. Membership includes representatives of relevant agencies such as the HSE, the Departments of Health and Children; Justice, Equality and Law Reform; Probation and Welfare Service; Education and Science; the Gardaí; Local Authority; FAS; Youth Service; Area Based Partnerships; Public Representatives; Public Representatives; Customs and Excise Division of the Revenue Commissioners; VEC; Community Sector; Voluntary Sector; and an NDST Liaison.
Reporting Mechanism:
RDTFs report through the RDTF structure of the NDST, in addition to which each member of the NDST acts as an NDST Liaison to a Task Force; The NDST report to the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and to the Interdepartmental Group on Drugs, which is chaired by Minister of State, Noel Ahern; The IDG reports to the Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion which is chaired by the Taoiseach.
Year: 2003
No. of Taskforces Created:
9 Regional Drugs Task Forces.
Function, Size, Membership and Reporting Mechanism:
As per 2002 data above.
Years 2004, 2005 and 2006:
No taskforces were created by my Department in the years 2004, 2005 and to date in 2006.