Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 December 2025
109. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the status of the rollout of the Garda health diversion scheme for people found in possession of drugs for personal use; when this diversion model will formally commence; and the monitoring and oversight mechanisms that will be in place to ensure it is applied consistently and fairly across all Garda divisions. [68439/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department recognises that possession of illicit drugs for personal use must necessarily be viewed as a public health issue, and not just as a matter for the criminal justice system. Additionally, while punishment for those who commit crime is a central element of our justice system, the rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders is at the core of our penal system. For these reasons, my Department is taking an active role in responding to the Citizens’ Assembly on Drug Use recommendation that the State introduce 'a comprehensive health-led response to possession of drugs for personal use'.a
The Department of Health together with my Department, the Health Service Executive and An Garda Síochána, are now finalising a Health Diversion Scheme.
The Scheme, which is in line with Recommendation 17 of the Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use, will provide a health-led response to possession for personal use. It will facilitate members of An Garda Síochána to connect participants with health services, thereby providing a pathway to treatment and recovery in cases of problematic drug use.
The Programme for Government endorses the health-led approach and commits to implementing the Health Diversion Scheme. The Minister of State for the National Drugs Strategy and I have agreed the scheme will commence on an administrative basis, and An Garda Síochána and the Director of Public Prosecutions are currently finalising the scheme’s operational details, prior to commencement at a national level.
The scheme will be reviewed after one year to ensure it is meeting its aims and to make any necessary changes. A comprehensive process evaluation framework has been developed to undertake this review.
I am informed that An Garda Síochána, in consultation with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, are in the process of drafting policy and procedure documents in respect of the Health Referral Scheme.
The policy and procedure documents will outline how the scheme will be implemented. It is anticipated that the scheme will be rolled out to all Garda Divisions simultaneously. The monitoring and oversight mechanisms that shall be in place to provide assurance that the Health Referral Scheme is applied consistently and fairly across all Garda divisions will be outlined in the relevant documents also.
