The Report of the Working Group on Drugs Rehabilitation made a series of recommendations for the development of a comprehensive rehabilitation pillar under the National Drugs Strategy.
As agreed by the Working Group, the HSE is taking the lead role on rehabilitation and I understand from them that the post of Senior Rehabilitation Co-ordinator is to be advertised shortly, and that they hope to have it filled by September. In addition, I understand that the National Drugs Rehabilitation Implementation Committee (the establishment of which was recommended in the Report) will be in place by September to dovetail with the appointment of the Senior Rehabilitation Co-ordinator, who will chair it. The recommendation in regard to extra detox beds will be pursued through this Committee. Meanwhile, FÁS has made a commitment to increase the number of drug-specific Community Employment places from 1,000 to 1,300 and steps are being taken to arrange for this.
A number of other rehabilitation initiatives are being progressed, including the following: my Department is providing funding of €750,000 for rehabilitation initiatives at Local and Regional Drugs Task Force level this year, as well as increased funding to the Family Support Network that will help to support the role of families in the rehabilitation process; the Irish Prison Service is working to improve the operation of the Local Prisons Liaison Groups and to endeavour to ensure a continuum of care for problem drug users when they leave prison; the Dept of Education & Science is developing proposals for an education fund for drugs rehabilitation; and the Dept of Environment, Heritage & Local Government is establishing a Working Group to progress the report's recommendations in regard to accommodation issues for recovering drug users.
Overall progress on the implementation of the Report of the Working Group on Drugs Rehabilitation will continue to be monitored through the Inter-departmental Group on Drugs which I chair. I can assure the Deputy that I will be pursuing its implementation over the coming period.