492. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the reason the word "alcohol" was not included in the title of the national drugs strategy, in view of the fact that alcohol was included in the remit of various alcohol and drug task forces in the period of the last Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23343/17]

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Catherine Byrne): As the Deputy is aware, Government policy on tackling the drug problem is set out in the National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016. A Steering Committee, led by an independent chair, has been established to advise me on the development of a new National Drugs Strategy, which will cover the period from 2017 onwards.

The Steering Committee has been mandated to develop an integrated public health approach to substance misuse, defined as the harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substances, including alcohol and illegal drugs and incorporating the relevant recommendations of other related policies, including the National Substance Misuse Strategy.

I understand that the Steering Committee is continuing with its deliberations with a view to presenting its final report to me shortly. I hope to bring my proposals to Government thereafter. Once approved by Government, the new strategy will then be published by the Department of Health.