Alarm at removal of minister to lead drugs strategy.

The criticism comes after the former minister of state with responsibility for the NDS, John Curran, became the new chief whip in Tuesday’s Cabinet reshuffle and was not replaced.

However, Citywide, an umbrella body of drug projects, said that, despite Mr Carey’s credentials, he had too big a brief to devote the necessary energy to drugs.

"Minister Carey was an excellent junior minister when in charge of the National Drug Strategy," said Citywide coordinator Daithí Doolan.

"He knows the level of commitment it takes. It is vital a minister is appointed with sole responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy. It is simply not good enough to have this important strategy buried in a large department.

"Real progress was made in tackling the drug crisis when the National Drugs Strategy was headed up by a full-time junior minister."

He pointed out that the NDS was due to expand in scope later this year with the inclusion of alcohol.

Mr Doolan said Citywide had requested an urgent meeting with Mr Carey to seek his backing for a full-time junior ministry.

A spokeswoman for the department said Mr Carey would take over responsibility for the NDS.

"The Government is fully committed to the National Drugs Strategy and this is evident in the assignation of a full minister to the drugs issue," she said.

"The department is fully satisfied that Minister Carey – who previously held responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy as Minister of State between June 2007 – May 2008, will give the drugs issue his full attention."

Source: Cormac O’Keeffe, The Irish Examiner, 26/03/2010