Home > Dail Eireann debate. Written answer 543 - National Drugs Strategy [Prevention] [33803/17].

[Oireachtas] Dail Eireann debate. Written answer 543 - National Drugs Strategy [Prevention] [33803/17]. (13 Jul 2017)

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543. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the drug prevention programmes currently being rolled out in each county; the budgets of each; and the number of persons each engage with. [33803/17]

 

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Catherine Byrne): The overall objective of the National Drugs Strategy is 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. Periodic reviews of progress across the five pillars of the Strategy are carried out through the Oversight Forum on Drugs, which is chaired by the Minister with responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy.

 

  Prevention and Education programmes constitute a significant part of the Government's response to the drug problem, particularly among young persons. Substance use education in schools is provided in the context of Social Personal and Health Education. The Department of Education and Skills's Inspectorate continues to monitor the effectiveness of the implementation of substance use policies in schools through the whole-school evaluation process and the inspectorate system. Local and Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Forces operate a range of education and prevention programmes, which aim to promote healthier lifestyle choices among young people and other vulnerable groups at risk of problem drug use. In addition, young people at risk of drug misuse can access diversionary programmes, facilities and services and family support.

 

  My Department does not routinely collect the information sought by the Deputy. However, in line with the National Drugs Strategy, departments and agencies report on their annual expenditure attributable to drugs programmes to the Oversight Forum on Drugs. Details of the expenditure from 2011 to 2015, as well as the allocation for 2016, is outlined in the table below.

 

  Expenditure and Allocations attributable to Drugs Programmes

Department/Agency

 

 

 

 

 

 

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

 

Expenditure €m

Expenditure  €m

Expenditure  €m

Expenditure €m

Expenditure €m

Allocation €m

HSE Addiction Services

92.878

89.368

90.392

86.122

90.994

89.894

HSE Drugs Task Force Projects

 

 

 

21.57

22.592

22.924

An Garda Síochána

45.014

45.85

44.00

43.00

43.000

45.000

Department of Children and Youth Affairs

24.987

22.73

20.31

19.548

19.548

20.037

Department of Justice & Equality

18.681

18.58

18.553

18.762

19.363

21.572

Revenue’s Customs Service

15.47

14.241

14.624

16.235

17.445

18.500

Department of Social Protection (previously FÁS areas)

15.634

11.859

13.434

14.063

13.900

14.167

Department of Health

33.554

32.376

30.524

8.28

7.323

6.995

Irish Prison Service

5.20

5.00

4.50

4.20

4.24

4.44

Department of Education and Skills

0.411

0.815

0.81

0.748

0.758

0.748

Department of Environment, Community & Local Government

0.4

0.2

0

0

0

0

Total

252.229

241.019

237.147

232.528

239.147

244.272

 

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