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National Drugs Strategy.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 November 2004

Tuesday, 9 November 2004

Ceisteanna (27, 28)

Paul Nicholas Gogarty

Ceist:

85 Mr. Gogarty asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will report on the mid-term review of the national drugs strategy. [28020/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Joan Burton

Ceist:

109 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when the mid-term review of the National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008 will be complete; the number of submissions he has received to date for consideration in the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27984/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 85 and 109 together.

The mid-term review of the national drugs strategy is under way. The review is examining the progress made to date in implementing the strategy and it will enable priorities for future action to be identified — and a re-focusing of the strategy, if necessary — for the remaining period up to 2008. The review will also examine the relevance of the strategy in tackling the current nature and extent of drug misuse in Ireland, including emerging trends, and will identify any gaps presenting and how they might be addressed.

The review is being overseen by a steering group chaired by my Department, which comprises representatives from a number of Departments and agencies involved in implementing the strategy as well as the community and voluntary sectors. PA Consulting Group is assisting the steering group in its ongoing work. A comprehensive consultation process has been undertaken as part of the review. Presentations from more than 25 Departments, agencies and voluntary and community groups involved in delivering the strategy were made to the steering group during September and early October, most of which I attended. Five regional seminars also took place in October in Galway, Limerick, Waterford, Carrick-on-Shannon and Dublin. The sessions were attended by members of the public as well as representatives from statutory agencies, Departments, community and voluntary groups, regional and local drug task forces and public representatives. I was happy to attend all the regional sessions and to partake in discussions. Focus groups involving young people were also held during October in Galway, Sligo, Limerick, Waterford and Dublin. A total of 117 written submissions to the review have been received to date.

The consultation process has enabled us to get a broad and varied perspective on the strategy and what its future direction should be. PA Consulting are synthesising and evaluating the views received and they will be reporting to the steering group by mid-December. Following consideration of the various issues by the steering group, I will make recommendations on the way forward to the Cabinet committee on social inclusion. I expect the review to be completed early next year.

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