609. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health as part of Government’s response to drug intimidation, if the full-time recommended role for the drug-related intimidation and violence engagement programme has been progressed, and if it has been affected by the recent moratorium announced within the Health Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53781/23] 

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Hildegarde Naughton): DRIVE is a national interagency initiative which sets out a model including national and linked community structures and systems to support communities to respond to drug related intimidation. 

The Department of Health has allocated €250,000 to support the development of DRIVE. €200k of that funding was used to resource a national project team comprising of a DRIVE Data and Research coordinator, a DRIVE Coordinator and part time Project officer, and also for a national awareness campaign and the roll out of national training. 

€50k is allocated specifically to support the recruitment of a DRIVE lead to coordinate the work in Drogheda and surrounding area in response to the Guerin report. 

Your query will be referred to the HSE for an update on the recruitment of the post.