305. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health if his officials have submitted their report regarding the North Inner City Drug and Alcohol Task Force to him. [57177/22] 

Frank Feighan, Minister of State at the Department of Health: As you are aware, the Department of Health is committed to addressing the drug and alcohol issues affecting the north inner city in conjunction with community-based service providers and has provided significant additional resources for drug and alcohol services in the area and wider north Dublin region. The Department is continuing to work with stakeholders in the north inner city to establish effective, inclusive, and transparent governance of the task force and of the funding that it allocates. 

The Department has concluded a consultation process with members of the task force and other stakeholders on the next steps. This involved a series of meetings with public representatives, statutory and non-statutory members of the task force, frontline community and alcohol projects funded under the ambit of the task force, community and service user representatives, staff employed by the task force company and other stakeholders in the North East Inner City.I understand that a report on the consultation process is currently being drawn up to identify the next steps to establish effective, inclusive, and transparent governance of the task force in the north inner city. I look forward to receiving the report shortly.