Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

While I have responsibility for the implementation of the national drugs strategy, the licensing of drugs such as methadone to treat heroin addiction is the responsibility of the Minister for Health and Children. Objective reviews and evaluations have consistently shown that the prescription of methadone can lead to reduced heroin use, reduced criminal activity and reduced spread of HIV and sexually transmitted diseases. It can stabilise an addict, allowing many to lead otherwise normal lives.

While methadone is not the only tool we have to combat heroin use, it has been an enormous aid in helping thousands of drug misusers to beat their addiction. More than 7,900 people receive methadone treatment. Encouragingly, estimates from the national advisory committee on drugs indicate that the number of heroin users has started to decrease in Dublin and has stabilised at low levels nationwide. The methadone maintenance programme has played a part in this decrease in numbers. The 2005 report of the steering group on the mid-term review of the national drugs strategy called for the expansion of methadone treatment.

An alternative to methadone, bupenorphrine, was licensed 18 months ago by the Irish Medicines Board for use in specialist settings. Clinical trials have shown that bupenorphrine can result in reductions in heroin use, increased retention in treatment and reduced craving. Compared with methadone, there is less sedation and more limited withdrawal symptoms. I understand the Department of Health and Children is in discussion with the Irish Medicines Board on the issue of prescription of bupenorphrine by general practitioners.

I established a rehabilitation working group to examine the provision of services for drug misusers, including those who abuse heroin, and to make recommendations for improvements. The report of the working group will be available in the coming months. Treatment and rehabilitation is just one aspect of this Government's approach to combating heroin use. Approximately 1,000 places are available for recovering drug misusers under the special FÁS community employment scheme.

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