Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 March 2015
435. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Health his plans to allocate responsibility for the national drugs strategy to an existing Minister of State in view of the seriousness of the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12664/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016 is a cross cutting area of public policy and service delivery which requires a coordinated response to tackling the drugs problem. As Minister for Health, I have overall responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy at Government level. The Oversight Forum on Drugs, which I chair, is responsible for the high-level monitoring of the implementation of the Strategy across Government Departments and agencies, and solid progress is being made in delivering on its actions.
I am fully committed to the drugs brief, and am eager to tackle the issues in the area in as comprehensive a way as possible. My Department is beginning work on the development of a new National Drugs Strategy for the period after 2016 and as Minister with lead responsibility for drugs policy, I will play an active role in the development of the new Strategy. I look forward to engaging with all interested parties in this work.
It is a matter for the Taoiseach in the first instance to determine the approach to the allocation of portfolios to Ministers of State.
