Curran determined to implement National Drugs Strategy

Posted on 14/10/09 by John Curran Minister for Drugs, John Curran, T.D., today discounted claims by community organisation Citywide and said that he has been given direct responsibility by government for the National Drugs Strategy and that he is determined to effectively fulfil that role.

Responding to claims that his role was hampered by not having a seat at Cabinet, Mr. Curran said: "With the establishment of the New Office of the Minister for Drugs on 1 September, and the associated changes in the structures for the implementation of the National Drugs Strategy, we now have a structure in place whereby all Local and Regional Drug Task Forces have a direct link to the Office of Minister for Drugs; this facilitates the Minister of State who is given responsibility by Government for the National Drugs Strategy to effectively fulfil that role.

The Strategy outlines in detail the structures through which the Minister of State will manage performance across the Strategy. The Minister of State is currently undergoing a process of personally meeting with every Drugs Task Force, both Local and Regional, across the country in order to oversee correct and adequate implementation of the new Strategy and to provide a support system for each Task Force.

Minister Curran said: "I have begun bilateral meetings with the relevant Ministers in relation to the National Drugs Strategy and I do not see my absence from the Cabinet table as an obstacle to getting this very important job done."

"I have recently approved a further €1.1 million of Capital Funding to fast track the development of treatment clinics across the country in Limerick, Cork, Waterford, Enniscorthy, Drogheda and Dundalk. I have stressed the urgency involved in providing these facilities and I am assured that some of them will be in operation by the end of the year, with treatment being available in all six locations early in 2010.

Minister Curran indicated that he is endeavouring to secure as much funding as possible to continue to tackle the drugs problem. "Arising from the €1.1m that I have allocated, HSE South have secured further funding of over €2 million to deliver on further treatment clinics, detox beds, extra addiction counselling hours, rehabilitation link workers and more residential rehabilitation beds.

"In implementing the National Drugs Strategy, improved performance will have to be achieved in a situation of limited resources" he said. "The optimum use of the €275m allocated in 2009 to tackling the drugs problem across the different Departments and agencies involved is imperative. With greater inter-agency working envisaged across all sectors, I am confident that this is achievable for the benefit of individuals affected, their families and their communities," added Minister Curran.