388. Deputy Catherine Byrne asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if an evaluation of the national drugs strategy 2001 to 2008, outlining both its merits and shortcomings, will be carried out. [4557/08]

Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Deputy Pat Carey): My Department has commenced work on the development of the new National Drugs Strategy for the period 2009 — 2016. A Steering Group has been established to oversee the development of the Strategy and the first meeting of that Group was held on 10 January. The Group includes representatives from the key statutory, community and voluntary interests involved in tackling problem drug use. Part of the work of developing a new Strategy will involve a review of the current Strategy.

In that regard, the Terms of Reference for the Steering Group include the following: examining the progress and impact of the National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008 across the five pillars of supply reduction, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and research in the context of the objectives, key performance indicators and actions set out therein; examining the relevance of the existing Strategy in tackling the current nature and extent of problem drug use in Ireland, including emerging trends and cross-cutting issues; identifying any gaps presenting and indicating how they might be addressed; and reviewing the operational effectiveness of the structures of the Drugs Strategy, including co-ordination mechanisms.

Vol. 646 No. 4
Written Answers
Tuesday, 12 February 2008