29. Deputy Jonathan O’Brien asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she is committed to implementing the national drugs strategy; the reason there is no mention of it in the programme for Government; and if she will provide a guarantee that there will be no roll back on the provisions of the national drugs strategy. [7970/11].

Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): Responsibility for co-ordinating policy on drugs is at present assigned to the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs. As the Deputy may be aware, the Government has agreed, with effect from 1 May 2011, to transfer the functions of the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs in relation to the National Drugs Strategy to the Minister for Health and Children.

The Government is committed to addressing problem drug use in a comprehensive way. Indeed, this is made fully clear in the Programme for Government (Government for National Recovery 2011-2016), which states that “We are committed to providing renewed impetus to the fight against drugs . .”. In line with this, the National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016 aims 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. The Actions set out in the Strategy facilitate a planned and monitored approach to achieving the overall strategic objectives. It is envisaged that progress on the implementation of these Actions will continue to be reviewed on an ongoing basis.

I can assure the Deputy that the Government intends to build upon the progress already achieved in the implementation of the National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016 to the benefit of individuals, their families and their communities.

Written Answers - National Drugs Strategy
Thursday, 14 April 2011
Vol. 730 No. 2