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Local Drugs Task Forces

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 December 2021

Thursday, 16 December 2021

Questions (535, 536)

Thomas Gould

Question:

535. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the previous membership of the National Oversight Committee on the National Drugs Strategy; and the new proposed membership. [62551/21]

View answer

Thomas Gould

Question:

536. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the format the promised further discussion on membership of the National Oversight Committee will take. [62552/21]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 535 and 536 together.

The National Oversight Committee gives leadership and direction to support the implementation of the national drugs strategy. The Committee consists of a cross-sector membership from the statutory, community and voluntary sector, as well as clinical and academic expertise.

The Department of Health completed and published the mid-term review of the actions in the national drugs strategy, Reducing Harm Supporting Recovery. Based on the learning from the mid-term review, six strategic priorities for the national drugs strategy for 2021-2025 were identified. These priorities strengthen the health-led approach, reflect commitments in the Programme for Government and align with the EU drugs strategy and action plan 2021-2025.

The oversight structures have been revised to drive the implementation of the strategic priorities for 2021-2025. Strategic implementation groups (SIGs) are being established to support the delivery of the strategic priorities and to reinforce cross-agency collaboration. The National Oversight Committee is being streamlined and includes the chairs of the newly established SIGs. The inter-agency approach involving a partnership between statutory, community and voluntary bodies remains central to the strategy, as does strengthening the resilience of communities to respond to the drug problem. The Department is putting in place a process to nominate members of the strategic implementation groups

I believe that the new structures will strengthen the partnership approach and give a stronger voice to civil society in developing national policy. I am also providing independent leadership to ensure the accountability of all stakeholders and involving service users to provide insights from the lived experience of drug and alcohol addiction.

Previous and new membership of the NOC, is set out in the table.

National Oversight Committee

Sector

Body

pre review

post review

Statutory

Department of Health

3

1

Statutory

Health Service Executive

1

2

Statutory

Dept of An Taoiseach

1

1

Statutory

Health Research Board

1

0

Statutory

Department of Justice

1

1

Statutory

An Garda Síochána

1

1

Statutory

Irish Prison Service

1

0

Statutory

Probation Service

1

0

Statutory

Revenue Customs Service

1

0

Statutory

Department of Children and Youth Affairs / TUSLA

2

1

Statutory

Department of Education and Skills

1

1

Statutory

Department of Social Protection

1

1

Statutory

Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government

1

1

Statutory

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

1

0

Community

Community rep

2

Community

Family support

1

Community

Service user rep

1

Voluntary Sector

Voluntary Drug Treatment Network

2

4

Task Force

Local DATF Chairs Network

1

Task Force

Local DATF Coordinators Network

1

Task Force

Regional DATF Chairs Network

1

Task Force

Regional DATF Coordinators Network

1

2

Ministerial Appointees

4

2

Chairpersons of 6 SIG

chair person for each of the 6 SIG

0

6

Subcommittee

Chair of EWET subcommittee

1

Subcommittee

Research Subcommittee

1

Total

31

26

Question No. 536 answered with Question No. 535.
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