Mary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

That is one of the big issues. It is why people’s addiction and their struggle escalates. Even at the earliest stage, when they need some help, assistance or an intervention, without being diverted, it is not there. When you look for help and cannot get it, at a human level it is very hard to find the resilience, particularly if you are struggling with something else as well, be it a mental health, social or economic issue, or whatever it is. That is why I am curious to know about this. I am taken by the idea of individualised care at a local level with your GP. That, to me, is where the first response and support should come from. I am not suggesting the resources are there for that at the moment. If we do not want individuals at the earliest stage to be stigmatised, feel overwhelmed and feel like there is no resource and support for them, there has to be an easily accessible support mechanism, and that has to be in the community at a local level. They should not be immediately excluded.