Vol. 496 No. 3
392 Mr. P. Carey asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if he has received the report on the evaluation of the local drugs task forces; if any decision has been made in relation to the future role of these task forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22929/98]
The Cabinet committee on social inclusion, at its last meeting, agreed, in principle, to the continuation of the local drugs task forces for the time being subject to an evaluation framework for the process being put in place, which would include clear statements of the overall aim of the initiative, the specific objectives arising from this aim and the specific targets arising from these objectives, quantified where possible; and appropriate macro-level monitoring arrangements to allow performance against stated objectives and targets to be measured. This decision was taken in accordance with the recommendation in the external evaluation report of the drugs initiative recently presented to my Department. A full review of the drugs task force process, having regard to the findings and recommendations of the external evaluator, has now begun with a view to submitting detailed proposals to the Cabinet committee at an early date. This will make way for a comprehesive, indepth review of the overall National Drugs Strategy, due to commence early in the New Year.
