Dáil Éireann - Volume 677 - 04 March, 2009

Written Answers. - Drugs Task Forces.

Deputy Kathleen Lynch asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of drugs task forces in place; the areas covered by such; the reports received by his Department from each group; the resultant actions taken as a result of such reports; the liaison or action taken between his Department and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform as a result of such reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8955/09]

  Deputy John Curran: There are 14 Local and 10 Regional Drugs Task Forces currently in place. The locations are listed in the Appendix.

[175] The work of the Drugs Task Forces is overseen by the National Drugs Strategy Team (NDST). The NDST is a cross-sectoral Team with representatives from relevant Government Departments and Agencies, including my own and the community and voluntary sectors are also represented on it.

In addition, a member of the Team acts as liaison person on each of the Task Forces. Through these structures, the NDST addresses and make recommendations on issues arising at local level and receives reports on progress by groups.

The NDST reports to my Department and to the Inter-departmental Group on Drugs (IDG), which I chair. Through these fora, I am kept apprised of the work of the Drugs Task Forces and I receive regular reports and updates from the various players engaged in the National Drugs Strategy, including the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform (D/JELR).

The Deputy should also note that, in the context of the consultation process for the new National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016, my officials and I met with representatives from the D/JELR. In addition, the D/JELR has a representative on the Steering Group established to oversee the development of the new Strategy and, along with the others on the Group, they will be playing a significant role in the development and roll-out of the new Strategy.

Appendix

Local Drugs Task Forces

Ballyfermot LDTF

Ballymun LDTF

Blanchardstown LDTF

Bray LDTF

Canal Communities LDTF

Clondalkin LDTF

Cork LDTF

Dublin 12 LDTF

Dublin North East LDTF

Dun Laoghaire Rathdown LDTF

Finglas Cabra LDTF

North Inner City LDTF

South Inner City LDTF

Tallaght LDTF

Regional Drugs Task Forces

East Coast Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown and Wicklow

Mid-West Clare, Limerick and Tipperary NR

Midlands Laois, Longford, Offaly and Westmeath

North East East Cavan, Louth, Meath and Monaghan

North West Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo and West Cavan

Northern Area North Dublin City and Fingal

[176] South Western South Dublin City, South Dublin, Kildare and West Wicklow

South East Carlow, Kilkenny, Tipperary SR, Waterford and Wexford

Southern Cork and Kerry

Western Galway, Mayo and Roscommon

Questions Nos. 81 and 82 answered with Question No. 65.