Ruairí Quinn
Ceist:10 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach the last occasion on which the Committee on Social Inclusion and Drugs met; the number of occasions on which it has met to date in 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11528/99]
Ceisteanna–Questions. - Committee on Social Inclusion and Drugs.
The Committee on Social Inclusion and Drugs met on Thursday, 22 April. It has met on three occasions this year, 28 January, 23 February and 22 April. Its next meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, 20 May.
Given the infrequency of meetings and the urgency of the problem which the committee is addressing, are proposals being considered?
On its establishment, it was envisaged that the committee would meet once a month. With the exception of March, it has achieved that objective. It met at least once a month last year – twice in one month. While I take the Deputy's point about the frequency of meetings, we are keeping to that schedule.
If the committee came up with a social initiative relating to the elimination of drug use as part of a significant millennium project, would the Minister of State's colleague in charge of millennium initiatives be in a position to consider it?
The issue raised by the Deputy is one of the significant issues being addressed by the Committee on Social Inclusion and Drugs. The Deputy's suggestion is a good one and has considerable merit. I will endeavour to establish if we can proceed with an initiative along the lines suggested. It would have my strong personal support.
On the last occasion a similar question was tabled the Minister of State indicated that an expert body was in the process of being established. What timescale does he have in mind for its establishment? I understand the initial allocation of £10 million to finance the local drugs task forces, which have been requested to review their work programmes, is now fully committed. What allocation is envisaged to enable the work programmes continue over the next year or two?
My proposals to establish the expert body are to be presented to the Committee on Social Inclusion and Drugs tomorrow when I hope there will be a positive outcome. The sum of £10 million is now fully committed and is being drawn down for in excess of 250 projects under way in the areas covered by the 13 local drugs task forces. The national drugs strategy is currently being evaluated. I expect to bring proposals to Government for a further allocation of funding to enable the national drugs strategy team and, importantly, the local drugs task forces to continue their work.
We now proceed to priority questions to the Minister for Public Enterprise.
I tabled a priority question on the Great Southern Hotels group in good time. Because the rules of the House allow a party other than my own to table a motion on the same subject, it has been gazumped. As a result there is no priority question in my name.
I was unaware of that.