59. Ms McManus asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his views on the recent report of the Working Group on Drug Rehabilitation, that represents the fifth pillar of the National Drugs Strategy; the main recommendations of this report. 

60. Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if consideration has been given to increasing the number of community employment places ringfenced as part of the rehabilitation strategy of the National Drugs Strategy, and to increasing the duration of the CE term to take account of the chaotic nature of the lives of many of the drug addicts when they begin CE and the damage caused to their rehabilitation programme if the stability CE brings to their lives is undermined by an arbitrary cut-off date. [14968/07]

702. Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress made by the working group on the rehabilitation tier of the National Drugs Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15159/07]

Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Mr. N. Ahern): I propose to take Questions Nos. 59, 60 and 702 together. The Report of the Working Group on Drugs Rehabilitation was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion last month. It is currently being printed and it is envisaged that the report will be launched in the next few weeks. The Working Group has taken a holistic view of rehabilitation and, while recognising the importance of clients being activated and prepared to fulfil their own role towards rehabilitation, it sees — as a key aim of the overall process — the empowering of recovering problem drug users so that they can re-engage with society in a manner consistent with their needs and expectations. The key recommendations of the Report focus on: *an effective inter-agency approach (protocols, service level agreements, quality standards); *treatment facilities (in particular regarding detoxification); *community employment related; and *broader life issues including medical support, employment, access to education, housing, particular issues relating to the rehabilitation of offenders, childcare, the role of families in the rehabilitation process and research. The Working Group acknowledged the contribution Community Employment (CE) is making to the drugs rehabilitation effort. They are recommending an increase from 1,000 to 1,300 in the number of drug-specific CE places, with increased focus on the educational and health requirements of participants. A pre-CE stabilisation initiative is also recommended.

 Vol. 636 No. 1 Written Answers

Tuesday, 24 April 2007