2898. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if she will ensure that alcohol is prioritised in the new national drugs strategy; if she will commit to conducting meaningful consultation with groups working in the area of alcohol-related harm and alcohol policy (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42582/25]
2899. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the timeline she is working towards in finalising and publishing the new National Drug Strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42583/25]
2900. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if she will commit to implementing recommendation nine of the evaluation of the National Drug Strategy “Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery 2017-2025” (details supplied); the steps she will take in the forthcoming new National Drug Strategy to strengthen integration of alcohol within it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42584/25]

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor, Minister of State at the Department of Health: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2898 to 2900, inclusive, together.

Extensive consultations with stakeholders on the successor national drugs strategy took place earlier this year. These included drug and alcohol task forces, drug and alcohol service providers, alcohol advocacy groups and public health experts.

The successor national drugs strategy will consider cross cutting issues such as treatment and recovery services for problematic alcohol use and evidence-based prevention programmes, as was the case in the current strategy. However, wider aspects of public health alcohol policy are not within the scope of the strategy.

I recently announced a significant investment in alcohol treatment services in response to growing demand. The Department has committed €1 million in 2025, rising to €1.8 million in 2026, to expand and enhance alcohol treatment services across all six Health Service Executive (HSE) health regions for the first time.

This investment marks a major step forward in the government’s response to problem alcohol use. By expanding community services across all HSE health regions for the first time, we will ensure that there is equitable access across all locations and that treatment services are available when and where they are needed.

I have established a steering group to prepare a draft of the strategy, with a timeframe of end 2025. The steering group will be supported in its work by a reference group of stakeholders, who will provide feedback on the draft strategy. The inaugural meeting of the steering group took place on 30th July, with Dr Sarah Morton as the independent chairperson. Their deliberations will be inform by the report of the Citizens Assembly on Drug Use, the independent evaluation of the current strategy and the consultations with stakeholders.

It is my intention that the successor national drug strategy will continue to expand treatment services for problem drug and alcohol use, especially given the pattern of polydrug use involving both alcohol and drugs.

Question No. 2899 answered with Question No. 2898.

Question No. 2900 answered with Question No. 2898.