1668 Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the specific measures which he will put in place to protect the independent, community-led role of Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces under the proposed regional governance arrangements in the draft National Drugs Strategy 2026-2029; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18290/26]

1652 Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Health further to the publication of the draft National Drugs Strategy 2026-2029, to outline the proposed governance, funding flows and accountability arrangements for the regional structures within the HSE Health Regions; whether Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces will retain independent governance and decision-making authority over locally delivered programmes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18236/26]

1653 Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Health the way in which funding will be allocated within the proposed regional structures under the draft National Drugs Strategy 2026-2029; whether deprivation, social exclusion and patterns of entrenched drug-related harm will be formally weighted alongside population in determining resource allocation; and if she will publish the criteria to be used by HSE Health Regions in making funding decisions. [18237/26]

1654 Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Health the specific measures which will be put in place to protect the independent, community-led role of Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces under the proposed regional governance arrangements in the draft National Drugs Strategy 2026-2029; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18238/26]

1655 Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Health whether, under the proposed regional structures in the draft National Drugs Strategy 2026-2029, all public funding for community-based drug services, including Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces, will be pooled at HSE Health Region level; what safeguards will be put in place to prevent dilution of funding to areas of high deprivation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18239/26]

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor, Minister of State at the Department of Health: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1668, 1652, 1653, 1654 and 1655 together.

I recently published the draft national drugs strategy. The draft strategy sets out an integrated, equitable and evidence-based response to drug use, reflecting the Government’s commitment to a health-led approach. A Public Consultation on the draft strategy is now open and the public and stakeholders are encourage to have their say.

The draft strategy proposes the establishment of structures under the HSE health regions to coordinate the planning, funding and delivery of high-quality drug and alcohol treatment services, based on population need, in order to address the current disparities in treatment prevalence between areas.

To support the governance remit of the health regions, the Department of Health is leading a process of stakeholder engagement to review existing structures, with a view to strengthen the input to the planning and delivery of drug services, enhance the integration of community-based services within primary care and involve people with lived and living experience. This process will involve the HSE health regions, drug task forces, community-based services and other relevant stakeholders.

I encourage all stakeholders, including those with lived and living experience of drug use, families, communities, drug and alcohol task forces and service providers, to provide their input to the national drugs strategy, so that it is an effective and comprehensive response to drug and harmful alcohol use.