Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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On the issue of referrals or the health-led scheme, one person who is a recovered addict said to me a couple of years ago, and it really stuck with me, that they were worried about any change in policy because they see the criminal system as the gateway to service provision. As in, you get your health services when you get a conviction. That really shocked and surprised me. While I very much welcome a health-led approach, it does strike me that perhaps funnelling people through a health-led scheme means that those people who are in active addiction might not get places.

When people are directed towards a health-led scheme, which is a good thing, is there a framework of discretion so it can be ensured that the few places we have, and we know we are tight on funding and resources in the health-led sector, are taken up by people in active crisis or active addiction and not by people who are attempting to escape a conviction?