176 Mr. Cosgrave asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the number of task forces or special committees set up in his Department since 1997; the date they were established; the terms of reference of each; if they have reported; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24495/01]

The following task forces or special committees have been set up in my Department since 1997. The National Drugs Strategy Review Group, chaired by the Department, was set up in April 2000. Its terms of reference, in line with the commitment to review the current drugs strategy contained in the Review of the Government Programme and in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness, were to identify the latest available data on the extent and nature of problem drug use in the country as a whole, any emerging trends in drug misuse and the areas with the greatest level of problem drug use; outline the current national drugs strategy, including the role of the statutory agencies and the community and voluntary sectors, in terms of supply reduction, education, prevention and awareness, risk reduction, treatment and rehabilitation, interagency co-ordination and integration as well as community-voluntary sector participation in the design and delivery of the strategies; examine the impact of the current national drugs strategy across the headings listed in the context of the objectives set for it and the resources allocated to date; identify any major gaps and deficiencies presenting across these headings; examine international trends, developments and best practice models; and in the light of the foregoing, consider how the current national drugs strategy, including the structures involved in its development and delivery, can be revised or modified to meet the gaps and deficiencies identified. The group reported in April 2001 and the new National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008 was launched on 10 May 2001.