Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the Deputy that there is a small percentage of people on Suboxone, but we are heading in the right direction. We have had additional funding this year to roll it out further. We will do that. Under the new strategy it is very clear to me and my Department that we will have to evaluate some of the methadone treatment numbers to see what we can do in the future to help people to reduce the time they are on the programme. We need more GPs to come on board, especially in level 2 GP services, to help with chronic people coming into clinics. This can also be the first port of call for them. We are approaching the issue in the right way. We may differ in how quickly we can get through it but I agree there needs to be a review. It has been a long time since the methadone treatment services were reviewed in 2010. There are a lot of good services in the community, in pharmacies and GP practices, and they have made a significant difference to peoples' lives. I know we are not knocking it, but I do not believe we should constantly target those people who are making a major recovery because they have been on methadone, even for a short time.

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