543. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the drug prevention programmes currently being rolled out in each county; the budgets of each; and the number of persons each engage with. [33803/17]

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Catherine Byrne): The overall objective of the National Drugs Strategy is to tackle the harm caused to individuals and society by the misuse of drugs through a concerted focus on the five pillars of supply reduction, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and research. Periodic reviews of progress across the five pillars of the Strategy are carried out through the Oversight Forum on Drugs, which is chaired by the Minister with responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy.

  Prevention and Education programmes constitute a significant part of the Government's response to the drug problem, particularly among young persons. Substance use education in schools is provided in the context of Social Personal and Health Education. The Department of Education and Skills's Inspectorate continues to monitor the effectiveness of the implementation of substance use policies in schools through the whole-school evaluation process and the inspectorate system. Local and Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Forces operate a range of education and prevention programmes, which aim to promote healthier lifestyle choices among young people and other vulnerable groups at risk of problem drug use. In addition, young people at risk of drug misuse can access diversionary programmes, facilities and services and family support.

  My Department does not routinely collect the information sought by the Deputy. However, in line with the National Drugs Strategy, departments and agencies report on their annual expenditure attributable to drugs programmes to the Oversight Forum on Drugs. Details of the expenditure from 2011 to 2015, as well as the allocation for 2016, is outlined in the table below.

  Expenditure and Allocations attributable to Drugs Programmes