364. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the funding that will be provided in 2018 for the drugs task forces; the details of the allocation of that funding between the different task forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49036/17]

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Catherine Byrne): The Government’s response to addressing substance misuse in Ireland is set out in Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery - A health-led response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland 2017-2020.  The strategy emphasises a health-led response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland, based on providing person-centred services that promote rehabilitation and recovery. It identifies a set of key actions to be delivered between 2017 and 2020, and provides an opportunity for the development of further actions from 2021 to 2025 to address needs that may emerge later on in the lifetime of the strategy.

The key health-related priorities for 2018 under Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery and the associated resource requirements will be determined in the context of the development of the HSE National Service Plan. The amount of funding available to each Task Force, Project and Programme in 2018 will also be determined by the Department of Health, in conjunction with the HSE.