204. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will consider the further roll-out of drug courts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38136/26]

Jim O'Callaghan, Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: The Dublin Drug Treatment Court (Dublin DTC) is a supervised treatment, education, and rehabilitation programme, which provides an alternative to custodial sentences for persons found guilty of certain drug-related offences.

The DTC was established in 2001 on a pilot basis as an alternative to custody for individuals whose offending behaviour is driven by an underlying drug dependency. It operates by way of a multi-disciplinary team made up of staff from the Health Service Executive, An Garda Síochána, the Probation Service, the City of Dublin Educational Training Board along with the Courts Service and the Judiciary.

A key priority under the National Drugs Strategy 2017-2025 is to evaluate the Dublin Drug Treatment Court and to make recommendations on the future direction of Drug Treatment Courts nationwide. This action is being led by my Department in consultation with the Department of Health.

In 2024, the Centre for Justice Innovation were commissioned by the Department of Justice to carry out an evaluation of the DTC. The evaluation builds on the Citizens Assembly on Drug Use recommendation that the State should adopt a comprehensive health-led response to drugs use, by reviewing how effectively the DTC operates as an alternative to custody and to consider the future direction of the court and its role within Ireland’s criminal justice and public health landscape.

The draft final report was received by my Department in Q4 2025 and shared with key stakeholders. The final report, incorporating their feedback, was received in February 2026 and is currently under consideration by my Department. I expect to receive this report in the near future.

The evaluation will provide an evidence base to inform policy development and decisions, including any consideration of the mainstreaming of funding and the wider rollout of drug treatment courts.