Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 5: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the steps he is taking to alleviate the situation which has resulted in more than 9,000 people being on the methadone treatment scheme in Dublin city alone; the way he proposes to deal with the fact that methadone is leading to the deaths of more addicts than heroin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5685/08]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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At 31 December 2007, a total of 8,595 people were recorded on the central methadone treatment list prepared by the Drug Treatment Centre Board. This is the national register of those in receipt of methadone and records the number in treatment nationwide. The register covers the four Health Service Executive regions, including those in treatment in prisons and directly through the Drug Treatment Centre Board. A breakdown of the number of people in receipt of methadone in Dublin city is not available but it is accepted that a large proportion of the overall number comes from the greater Dublin area.

I do not accept the assertion that methadone leads to more deaths than heroin and there is no evidence to support the claim. Studies of opiate related deaths reported to the coroner in 1999 indicated that most such fatalities involved a combination of drugs. The national drug related death index being prepared by the alcohol and drug research unit of the Health Research Board will provide a national estimate of the role of methadone in drug related deaths. The index for the period from 1998 to 2005 is being finalised and will be published in the coming months.

At the same time, methadone is an opiate and I accept the danger from it is significant. It is vital it is taken under medical supervision with regular testing, whether in a clinical or community setting. The introduction some years ago of the methadone protocol to manage the distribution of methadone and minimise the risk of diversion has been largely successful. However, we must continue to work to minimise the diversion of methadone for onward sale.

While methadone has brought significant life improvements for many, I am committed to empowering people to access the social, economic and cultural benefits of life in line with their needs and aspirations through the implementation of the recommendations of the report of the working group on drugs rehabilitation in line with the programme for Government.

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State and welcome the figures he provided. Unfortunately, I am not surprised by his reply. More people on the methadone treatment programme are dying than ever before. It does not make a difference whether 8,000 or 9,000 people are on the methadone treatment list because those taking the substance are in the middle of a life sentence. One can spend upwards of nine years on methadone.

The Minister of State and I recently visited a project in Bluebell where many people have been on the methadone treatment programme for several years. They are trying to get their lives back and hope to be free from drugs some day.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Deputy should ask a question.

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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In the context of a new national drugs strategy for the period from 2009 to 2020, what programmes will be introduced to reduce the large number of people on methadone treatment programmes and give them hope that they will be able to avail of the 36 beds in the detoxification units? These beds cannot be used because they are not clean.

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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To a certain extent, the Deputy almost answered the question she raised. We need to establish a variety of treatment options which are appropriate on medical grounds. Methadone should not be a life sentence and options should be available to allow people to leave the programme. These options include detoxification and medical alternatives such as suboxone and naloxone currently under exploration.

I discussed this issue with my colleagues on the margins of the British-Irish Council meeting this morning. We are all taking the same action on medical and clinical grounds. We must be able to offer to clients on methadone options which enable them to stop using the substance. Not everyone is ready to stop taking methadone.

I attended a conference yesterday organised by the Ballymun drugs task force at which two experts from Scotland noted that some people had become addicted to methadone. We should not inflict this life sentence on anyone. I am determined to ensure, as far as possible, that options, including detoxification, are available and the commitment to increase detox beds contained in the programme for Government is met. To this end, the Department is in discussions with the voluntary sector and Health Service Executive.

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Time is running out for many people and a proper programme must be put in place immediately. The Minister of State pointed out that these steps will be taken in future but every day young people in our communities are becoming addicted to all types of drugs. In five or six years they will be placed on methadone treatment programmes and will probably continue on methadone until they reach their 30s and 40s. The Minister of State must listen to pleas to take immediate action on detoxification facilities.

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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The report of the mid-term review of the national drugs strategy, commonly known as the Rehab report, was published last May. Its recommendations form part of the programme for Government. As I indicated, I am determined to ensure the essential continuum of care is available. I started this process this year in the allocations I made to a number of projects and will continue with this approach for the rest of this year and, I hope, into the next phase of the strategy.