Thomas Gould
Question:286. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the role her Department plays in the delivery of the National Drugs Strategy. [56336/21]
View answerWednesday, 17 November 2021
Questions (286)
Written answers
My officials have regular engagement with the Department of Health regarding the National Drugs Strategy. My Department is represented on its Oversight Group and recently participated in the mid-term review of the strategy.
The strategy is relevant to my Department's work in the community and voluntary sectors as it is vital in ensuring the collective input of the statutory, community and voluntary sectors, to provide a coordinated response to drug and alcohol use in Irish society.
The strategy also involves mobilising communities and building their resilience to respond to the drug problem, particularly marginalised communities. This links well with my Department’s Social Inclusion & Community Activation Programme (SICAP) which supports those hardest to reach, and those who are most at risk of marginalisation.
The Department has two main goals within the strategy, which relate to providing community supports in collaboration with schools and other youth programmes, and improving the life chances of those that are marginalised in society. Both goals are implemented under SICAP which provides €200m to Local Development Companies over six years to work with marginalised individuals and groups.
My Department will continue to assist with the important work of the National Drugs Strategy into the future.