Currently, there are 14 Local and 10 Regional Drugs Task Forces throughout the country. The following appendix sets out details in this regard.
As part of the National Drugs Strategy 2009-16 launched by An Taoiseach last month, new institutional structures have been put in place to support the implementation of the Strategy, including the establishment of the Office of the Minister for Drugs (OMD). One of the key roles of the new Office will be to support the work of the Task Forces.
The Strategy provides that Task Forces will report to the OMD for expenditure and activity relating to their projects twice a year. In addition, they will be required to produce an annual statement, in an agreed format, giving an assessment of the work and outputs of their projects — and their broader strategic and co-ordinating work — in the previous 12 months. I expect to receive the first of such reports and statements early in 2010.
In addition, statutory, community and voluntary representatives will act as liaison persons between the Task Forces and the Office and will be providing regular updates on relevant issues at the Drugs Advisory Group, which I chair. The Department of Justice, Equality & Law Reform is represented on this and all the new bodies that are being put in place to drive the implementation of the Strategy.
My Department is in regular contact with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform who will be actively involved in rolling out the new Strategy. I recently met with Minister Ahern and his Officials on this matter, the first of the twice yearly meetings under the new Strategy.
Appendix
Local Drugs Task Forces
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Regional Drugs Task Forces
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Ballyfermot
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East Coast (Dun Laoghaire Rathdown and Wicklow)
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Ballymun
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Midlands (Laois, Longford, Offaly and Westmeath)
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Blanchardstown
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Mid West (Clare, Limerick and Tipperary NR)
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Bray
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North Dublin and Area (North Dublin City and Fingal)
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Canal Communities
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North East (East Cavan, Louth, Meath and Monaghan)
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Clondalkin
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North West (Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo and West Cavan)
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Cork
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Southern (Cork and Kerry)
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Dublin North East
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South East (Carlow, Kilkenny, Tipperary SR, Waterford and Wexford)
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Dublin 12
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South West (South Dublin City, South Dublin, Kildare and West Wicklow)
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Dun Laoghaire/ Rathdown
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Western (Galway, Mayo and Roscommon)
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Finglas Cabra
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North Inner City
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South Inner City
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Tallaght
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