I propose to take Questions Nos. 516, 517, 518, 520, 521, 522, 534, 535, 536, 537, 542, 543, 544, 545, 546, 547, 548, 549, 554, 555, 556, 557, 558, 559, 560, 561, 577, 578, 579 and 580 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] https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-health/consultations/draft-national-drugs-strategy-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.
