457. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the progress made to date in implementing the commitment in the programme for Government to integrate drugs and alcohol abuse strategies at local level. [28220/11]

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Róisín Shortall): A Steering Group, chaired by the Department of Health, is developing recommendations on including alcohol in a National Substance Misuse Strategy to compliment the existing National Drugs Strategy. The Report of the Steering Group will be submitted to me by the end of October and I expect that the proposals therein will cover both national and local aspects of the issues involved.