Michael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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A number of years ago, Wexford County Council, in conjunction with County Wexford VEC, agreed a transfer of land which was the former premises of Gorey technical school. I had the pleasure of being the vice chairman of Wexford County Council at the time and chairman of County Wexford VEC. The site contained an adult education facility, a library — for which a significant grant was received from An Chomhairle Leabharlann — the county council offices, Gorey Town Council offices, a courthouse and an office building. A construction project costing €21million was agreed between these bodies and the local authorities. The project is near completion and will be open in a few weeks. A civic square is located in the centre of the development.

A number of months ago, it came to my attention that the HSE intended establishing a methadone prescribing clinic in the HSE facility. The arrangement between the HSE and Wexford County Council was for a day care mental hospital and everybody was satisfied with that arrangment. However, the HSE proceeded to attempt to establish a methadone prescribing clinic within that facility.

I met with the HSE and informed it that this was a very inappropriate location for the establishment of such a facility. Unfortunately, the HSE chose to press ahead with the project, as it normally does, and tried to ignore the views of the entire body politic of north County Wexford, including the local area committee of Wexford County Council and practically all of Gorey Town Council. I informed the HSE that I would object strenuously to the clinic. I was involved in the Part 8 planning application and it is clear to me that permission was not granted for the establishment of a mental day care hospital. The only planning permission granted is for office space. I did not want to enter into a conflict but I had no option given the complete absence of a meeting of minds. It is not listening to the opinion of the body politic, the VEC and everybody else concerned that a greater disservice could not be done to the town of Gorey than the establishment of a methadone prescribing clinic in that location. If the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government consulted local authority officials, he would find that I am factually correct.

It is unfortunate that the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Pat Carey, has left the Chamber because I also raised the matter with him. I hope common sense prevails and that the HSE does not attempt to establish a methadone prescribing clinic at Civic Square. It is taking an outrageously belligerent attitude towards the entire body politic and for too long quangos of this type have ignored individual politicians and this House. I hope the Minister ensures this project does not proceed. I will be fighting in every forum available to me to demonstrate this is the wrong place to establish a clinic.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I am replying to this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney. As Deputy D'Arcy will be aware, the management and delivery of health and personal social services, including methadone services, are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter as it provides me with an opportunity to outline the actions being taken by the HSE to expand the availability and access to drug treatment services.

Under the interim national drugs strategy for 2009 to 2016, the HSE is implementing part of action 34 by providing methadone clinics in targeted areas where waiting lists have emerged. One of these clinics is being provided in Gorey, County Wexford. This clinic will be a methadone scripting clinic which will open only twice per week for three hour sessions. Methadone will not be provided in the clinic. It will be staffed by a methadone level two trained GP and support nursing and general assistance staff. This is a key action in the 2010 HSE national service plan and part of the comprehensive harm reduction programme being implemented by the HSE across the country.

There are an estimated 14,500 opiate users in Ireland. At the end of December 2009, some 9,047 clients received methadone maintenance treatment services, 5,382 of whom were dispensed methadone by pharmacists in the community rather than in specialist addiction clinics. The number of GPs providing methadone maintenance treatment at the end of December 2009 was 277 while the number of pharmacies involved was 480. The HSE is planning to expand these services in 2010.