82. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the role her Department is taking in the National Drugs Strategy. [19279/23] 

Joe O'Brien, Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development: My officials have regular engagement with the Department of Health regarding the National Drugs Strategy. My Department is represented on the Strategic Implementation Group (4) of Reducing Harm and Supporting Recovery. This group comprises sectoral, agency and Departmental officials. 

The strategy is relevant to my Department's work in the community and voluntary sectors as it is vital in ensuring the collective input of the statutory, community and voluntary sectors, to provide a coordinated response to drug and alcohol use in Irish society. 

The strategy also involves mobilising communities and building their resilience to respond to the drug problem, particularly in marginalised communities. This links well with my Department’s Social Inclusion & Community Activation Programme (SICAP 2018 - 2023), which supports those hardest to reach, and those who are most at risk of marginalisation. 

My Department has two main goals within the National Drugs Strategy, which relate to providing community supports in collaboration with schools and other youth programmes, and improving the life chances of those that are marginalised in society. 

My Department will continue to assist with the important work of the National Drugs Strategy into the future.