Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 February 2021
1046. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health the way in which the mid-term review of the national drugs strategy will address the limitations of the health diversion programme that is currently being developed by his Department and which will continue to criminalise possession of drugs for persons caught more than once or twice in some circumstances, that is, those persons with the most serious drug problems. [10581/21]
View answerThe national drugs strategy provides an integrated public health response to substance use. It contains 50 actions to be delivered over the four year 2017-2020. The strategy is a dynamic process, with the flexibility to introduce new measures to address issues that emerge.
Action 36 in the strategy is to consider alternative approaches to the possession of drugs for personal use and to make recommendations on policy options. The action was completed in 2019 with the publication of the report of the working group. On foot of the report, the Government agreed to adopt a health-lead approach to drug use, known as the health diversion programme. There are two components to the programme whereby a person in possession of drugs, determined by An Garda Síochána to be for personal use, on the first occasion would be referred by An Garda Síochána on a mandatory basis to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for a health screening and brief intervention. On the second occasion, An Garda Síochána would have discretion to issue an Adult Caution.
The Programme for Government states that the health diversion programme is an important step in developing a public health approach to drug use. The programme will connect people who use drugs with health services and a pathway to recovery, avoiding a criminal conviction, which can have far-reaching consequences for people, particularly younger people. A review of the programme will take place following the first full year of implementation to ensure that it is meeting all of its aims.
I intend to make the implementation and review of the health diversion programme a key action in the national drugs strategy for the period 2021-2025. I expect to shortly announce the commencement of the programme on an administrative basis in a number of locations. I encourage all stakeholders to work with me and the Department to implement and to review this public health approach.
