A new Programme for Government was agreed in January 2025 by the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael parties, and a group of Independent TDs.1 While lacking in much detail, it indicates an ongoing commitment to the health-led strategic direction of the current national drugs strategy. The Government commits to:

• Assess the outcomes of the national drugs strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery 2017–2025, and publish a successor strategy. No date is given for when this strategy will be published.
• Divert those found in possession of drugs for personal use to health services. This reflects an ongoing commitment to implement the Health Diversion Approach, which was originally announced by the government of the day in 2019.
• Increase funding for drug addiction services, including local drug and alcohol taskforces, to improve their effectiveness.
• Launch a major awareness campaign on the impact of drugs on society.
• Re-establish the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Drugs Use. This committee was established to consider and respond to the findings of the Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use.2 It held meetings during 2024 and published an interim report on its findings in October 2024.3 Its work ceased following the dissolution of the Government the following month.
• Explore the establishment of mobile medically supervised injecting facilities in areas of need, and increase the availability of naloxone and train relevant individuals on its use. Both of these reflect recommendations made by the Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use (p. 91).1

Jennifer Murnane O’Connor, the Fianna Fáil TD for Carlow-Kilkenny, has been appointed Minister of State at the Department of Health with special responsibility for Public Health, Well Being and the National Drugs Strategy. In response to a Dáil motion in February 2023 to establish the Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use she said: “When it concludes its work and submits a report to the Oireachtas by the end of 2023, I will be eager to hear what steps we can take to best reflect a partnership approach and give a stronger voice to the civil society implementation of the drug use strategy. This is crucial. All of us must be so mindful of drug use and I really welcome this citizens’ assembly.”4

1    Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Independent TDs (2025) Draft Programme for Government 2025: Securing Ireland’s Future. Dublin. Available from: https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/42537/

2    Citizens’ Assembly (2024) Report of the Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use. Dublin: Citizens’ Assembly. Available from: https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/40393/

3    Joint Committee on Drugs Use (2024) Joint Committee on Drugs Use Initial Report. Dublin: Houses of the Oireachtas. Available from: https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/42080/

4    Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use: Motion, 21 February 2023. Available from:
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2023-02-21/13/