475. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health this plans to create a position for a Minister to oversee issues related to drug abuse and overdose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14026/15]

Minister for Health (Deputy Leo Varadkar): The 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.