I am confident that the implementation of the National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016 will provide a comprehensive response to problem drug use in Ireland. The Strategy seeks to tackle the harm caused to individuals and society by the misuse of drugs through a concerted focus on the five pillars of supply reduction, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and research. This pillar approach is being retained as it has proved effective to date, it was widely supported during the consultation process on a new Strategy and it dovetails with the EU Action Plan on Drugs 2009-2012. The Actions set out in the Strategy will facilitate a planned and monitored approach to achieving the overall strategic objective.
A number of the Actions of the Strategy focus on co-ordination arrangements to facilitate implementation. The changes made in institutional structures, including the establishment of an Office of the Minister for Drugs, facilitate that role. These changes will also streamline administration and facilitate more effective co-ordination and partnership. Under the Strategy, I will be meeting twice a year with a number of Ministers and various senior officials who are directly involved in the work to address the drugs problem. I am currently undertaking the first round of such meetings and I am stressing the need for Departments and agencies to ensure that high priority is given achieving the objectives of Strategy. These meetings facilitate a good exchange of views, and they also focus on the importance of the continued effective implementation of other programmes that impact on the factors underpinning problem drug use.
An Oversight Forum on Drugs, which I chair, has been established and the first meeting of the Forum was held last month. The primary role of the Oversight Forum on Drugs is the on-going high level examination of progress across the Strategy and to address any operational difficulties and blockages that may arise. A Drugs Advisory Group has also been set up with membership from across the statutory, community and voluntary sectors. This Group, which meets regularly, advises the Minister on operational and policy matters relating to the National Drugs Strategy, and oversees and supports the work of the Drugs Task Forces.
The implementation of the Strategy will have to be achieved in a situation of limited funding and so the optimum use of the available resources is essential. However, these resources are considerable, with the estimated expenditure on the drugs problem across Departments and agencies in 2009 being in excess of €275m. The difficulties facing our society as a consequence of problem drug use are significant, and addressing all the factors involved will not be easy. However, I am determined that real progress will be made across the period of the Strategy, with all sectors working in a co-ordinated and targeted way, to achieve the implementation of the agreed Actions.