Addiction Treatment Services
Seanad Éireann — 2026-05-19
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Mary Fitzpatrick (FF), Industrial and Commercial Panel

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. I fully accept, agree with and support the premise that any expansion needs to be grounded in evidence, properly planned and, more importantly, properly resourced. It has to be set up to succeed and we cannot set it up to fail. I ask the Minister of State to convey back to the Department that this drug treatment court has been a pilot since 2001. In case they need reminding, we are now in 2026, which is 25 years or a quarter of a century later. I think the drug treatment court has low referrals primarily because people do not know about it. It is not being spoken about and it is not being used as effectively as it could be. More importantly, I genuinely believe the citizens' assembly gave a direction to politicians. The last interim Oireachtas committee on drugs gave a direction. The Minister with responsibility for drugs is in the process of finalising a new drugs strategy. We are all committed to achieving a health-led response to drugs.
To achieve a health-led response to drugs, the drug treatment court can play a part. It is only a part. It is not all of the solution but it can help to bridge from where we are today - with a judicial response - to a more health-led one. I urge the Minister of State and the Department to do that. I believe that it reduces crime, saves lives and money. It breaks that cycle and it makes for safer communities.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-05-19/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:57+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-05-19