Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Cornmarket project in County Wexford is a support service for individuals with a history of addictions. A co-ordinator in the services has contacted me to say that the HSE is set to slash 26 front-line positions in social inclusion services at the end of this year. Twelve of those positions are specific to addiction-related services, and at a time when the demand for services is spiralling into a drugs crisis, this would be detrimental. There is a serious potential outcome if these positions are lost, and we are facing a public health emergency with regard to the current spate of drugs in villages and communities in County Wexford. Most recent figures show a massive increase of 23% in drug use across the south east between 2021 and 2023. It is an educated guess that that will go up in 2024 if this is to happen. We need investment in drug treatments and services to reduce wider costs to the taxpayer, and this is where we join the dots. The Cornmarket project believes that for every €1 spent, there is a €3 saving to the taxpayer across the sector. Will the witnesses clarify the current status of the 29 vacant positions across the south east? Because it feels like the south east is continuously being hit and discriminated against with regard to health supports. The HSE substance misuse services manager position has been vacant for more than 18 months in County Wexford. Will they please address that? We are in the throes of a drug misuse pandemic.