Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Gannon for raising this issue, as he has done many times both in the Dáil and privately. I thank him for his commitment to it. The issues raised in the "Prime Time" programme on drug and alcohol use on O'Connell Street fall under the remit of several Departments and agencies, including the Department of Justice, An Garda Síochána, Dublin City Council and the Department of Health. I welcome the opportunity to address this topic from a health perspective.

I was very disappointed with the one-sided discussion on the "Prime Time" programme. There was no information presented on the broad range of health-related services available to support people who use drugs and alcohol in the north inner city area, including O'Connell Street. The image portrayed and language used by the "Prime Time" programme to describe vulnerable individuals with drug or alcohol problems was inappropriate and is not in keeping with the Government's health-led approach under the national drugs strategy. I agree with the Deputy that it is important we show compassion and understanding to people who are affected by drug addiction. Using stigmatising language makes it more difficult for those people to access services.

The Department of Health is very supportive of the 17 community-based drug services operating in the north inner city. These services, which play a valuable role in tackling drug and alcohol problems in Dublin city, receive funding of €4.4 million per annum through the local drugs and alcohol task force. Earlier today, I visited one such project, Chrysalis. I thank those involved in that project and the many other services for the incredible work they do in tackling this very difficult issue. The HSE and Dublin City Council fund the law engagement and assisted recovery, LEAR, project in Dublin city centre, which provides intensive case management services to people entrenched in street life on Middle Abbey Street, O'Connell Street and Talbot Street. The HSE also funds an assertive case management team, involving Ana Liffey and Coolmine, which works with people who are homeless and in emergency accommodation in the city centre, including outreach work with people who are on the streets.

The Government's strategic response to addressing drug and alcohol problems in Ireland is set out in the national drug strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery. The strategy promotes a healthier and safer Ireland in which public health and safety are protected and the harms caused to individuals, families and communities through substance misuse are reduced. The strategy reflects a change in attitudes to substance misuse and promotes a more compassionate and humane approach to people who use drugs, with addiction treated first and foremost as a public health issue. It is underpinned by the key values of compassion, respect, equality and inclusion.

More than €130 million a year is allocated to the HSE for the provision of addiction services. There is significant investment in addiction services in the north inner city. Earlier this year, €850,000 was provided for a HSE-led initiative to reduce the health-related harms from cocaine and crack cocaine. Under this initiative, I confirm that €200,000 is being provided to the community healthcare organisation, CHO, area incorporating Dublin north city and county, involving seven HSE addiction services, including opioid agonist treatment, OAT, locations and other treatment and rehabilitation services.

Like the Deputy, I firmly believe that addressing the drug problem requires a multipronged approach, involving the provision of harm reduction and prevention initiatives in tandem with treatment services.

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