5. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee that deals with drugs policy will next meet. [30915/23]

12. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on drugs policy will next meet. [32556/23]

Leo Varadkar, The Taoiseach:……. Drugs policy is multifaceted and involves work carried out by multiple Government Departments. The focus of a particular drug policy would inform which Cabinet committee considers it. In addition to the meetings of the full Cabinet and Cabinet committees, I meet with Ministers on an individual basis to focus on different issues. I meet regularly with the Minister for Health to discuss progress and challenges in the area of health, including the Sláintecare reform programme.…….

Deputy Gino Kenny: The Citizens' Assembly on Drugs Use is examining the issue of drug use and this is an important issue and assembly. Early indications are that the citizens in that assembly are moving towards a more progressive approach on drug use. That is welcome and it is a reflection of society but the big question is as follows: whatever the recommendations are, will this Government give a commitment to legislate on those recommendations during its lifetime? Without the law being changed, we will be back at square one, the way we are at the moment.

Deputy Paul Murphy: The programme for Government refers to the drug and alcohol task forces. It says that they "play a key role" in implementing the drug strategy; that the Government will continue to support them "in identifying local need in communities"; that it will "support targeted initiatives"; and that it will address "drug and alcohol misuse". The truth is there has been limited progress on this commitment to support those who are on the front line in dealing with the problems of drug abuse and addiction. The funding is dire. For example, the funding for the Tallaght Drug & Alcohol Task Force, of which I am a member, is still below what it was in 2010, despite the fact that the population has exploded, as have drug problems. One issue is that the Minister needs to engage with the task forces. We have a new Minister of State responsible for the drug strategy, Deputy Naughton. The Tallaght Drug & Alcohol Task Force wrote to the Minister of State seeking a meeting and was informed that the Minister of State was not available, with no alternative time being offered. At the very least, should she not be meeting the task forces?……..

Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú: I would like to bring up the case of the Family Addiction Support Network in Dundalk. The Guerin report and the Drogheda implementation report spoke about the important work it does, particularly with families. It is sometimes the go-to body for those who are not necessarily comfortable with going to the Garda about drug debt, intimidation and the huge issues there are with those matters. Those involved have had numerous meetings with the HSE on funding, but it is not really cutting the mustard. They have even met an organisation that was provided funding and that asked it whether it could deal with some of its overflow. The Garda has carried out fundraising for this organisation because it sees it as necessary. The Minister for Justice has had many interactions with me before on this but we need to see some sort of sustainable funding for an organisation doing necessary work.

Leo Varadkar, The Taoiseach: ……………. Deputy Gino Kenny raised the Citizens' Assembly on Drugs Use. When it makes its recommendations, they will be considered in good faith by the Government. As with the review that Deputy Bríd Smith mentioned, there is no obligation on the Government or the Oireachtas to accept every recommendation that is made. That would not be right. What we will do is to take seriously any recommendations that are made, consider them properly and in good faith, and then issue a reasoned response. There should not be any assumption or obligation on any democratically elected parliament or government to accept every recommendation that a body makes. That would not be right and would not make sense, in my view.

I will ask the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, to come back to Deputy Paul Murphy directly on the Tallaght Drug & Alcohol Task Force.