Results 1-20 of 500 for drugs speaker:Frank Feighan

Weather-Related Supports for Farmers: Statements (Resumed) (24 Apr 2024)

Frank Feighan: ...and leading to mental pressures. The Minister of State, Deputy Heydon, will remember that when I was a Minister of State in the Department of Health with responsibility for the national drugs strategy, health and well-being, we launched the On Feirm Ground scheme which presented a genuine opportunity to equip farm advisers with a toolkit of supports related to physical and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Key Issues Affecting Youth: North South Youth Forum (15 Feb 2024)

Frank Feighan: ...and write policies, we want the views of the witnesses on board. I will look at three different areas. I was in Ballymun. I was the Minister of State with responsibility for the national drugs strategy, and health and well-being. We had some very good engagement. I recognise the witnesses' issues. A lot of promises were made over the years. I am not sure whether we can deal with...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Rights-Based Care for People with Disabilities: Discussion (8 Nov 2023)

Frank Feighan: ...own silos. Due to Covid and online meetings, though, we are beginning to work together. I saw that when I was a Minister of State in the Department of Health with responsibility for the national drugs strategy, public health and well-being. It was one of the first times that officials from the Department of Health had visited the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: National Disability Inclusion Strategy: Discussion (20 Sep 2023)

Frank Feighan: ...our guests have gone through this already but it is probably not getting the attention it deserves. I know that when I was in the Department people who were working on areas such as the national drugs task forces were moved to deal with Covid. While that was understandable, there is no such excuse for it from here on in. I saw a lot of things in the Department being put on the back...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Disabled People's Organisations and the Implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Discussion (1 Jun 2023)

Frank Feighan: ...do not want to go back over what other members talked about. I am new to this committee, given I was previously a Minister of State at the Department of Health with responsibility for the national drugs strategy and health and well-being. This committee is very much united, and both the Chair and the Vice Chair are anxious that the DPOs’ voices be heard. One thing I noticed when...

Citizens' Assembly on Drugs Use: Motion (21 Feb 2023)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, for bringing forward this motion approving the establishment of a Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use. I also thank all of the other stakeholders, the Members of the Dáil and Seanad and the many people who have pursued this in a very measured way. I am delighted that, after many years, the citizens’ assembly will start. I want...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Substance Misuse (18 Jan 2023)

Frank Feighan: The national drug strategy, Reducing Harm Supporting Recovery, strategy provides an integrated public health approach to drug and alcohol use, focused on reducing the harms for individuals, families and communities and promoting rehabilitation and recovery. Methadone prescribing for opioid dependence remains a key element of the harm reduction approach to opioid use set out in the National...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (14 Dec 2022)

Frank Feighan: The legislation providing for the establishment, licensing and operation of supervised injecting facilities is set out in the Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Act 2017 (No 7 of 2017). The Act refers to the operation of a facility in respect of certain premises. The Government decision approving the provision of supervised injecting facilities envisages the initial...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Citizens' Assembly (8 Dec 2022)

Frank Feighan: There is an An Bord Pleanála appeal on the supervised injection facility in Merchants Quay. We hope it will be taken as quickly as possible. It is part of the overall national drug strategy. I am very fortunate as Minister of State to have the national drugs strategy to which there has been more than 20,000 submissions. It has had its mid-term review. That is about reducing harm and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Citizens' Assembly (8 Dec 2022)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Deputy for his informed and measured remarks. The Government is committed to a health-led approach for those in possession of drugs for personal use through the health diversion programme that will divert them away from the criminal justice system and connect them with health services. The terms of reference for the citizens’ assembly will be a matter for the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Citizens' Assembly (8 Dec 2022)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The Government is committed to establishing a citizens' assembly on drug use at the earliest opportunity in 2023 along with a citizens' assembly on the future of education. The terms of reference and the timelines for the citizens' assembly on drug use will be presented to the Oireachtas for approval. I am very positive about the potential...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Funding (8 Dec 2022)

Frank Feighan: The Department of Health provides €28 million in recurring funding for 280 community-based drug and alcohol services annually. In 2019, additional funding of €1m was provided for drug and alcohol task forces, including €240,000 on a recurring basis for core budgets. It is a strategic priority under the national drugs strategy for 2021-2025 to enhance access to and...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (8 Dec 2022)

Frank Feighan: ...appropriate to comment on or prejudge the outcome of this process.  The legislation providing for the establishment, licensing and operation of supervised injecting facilities is set out in the Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Act 2017 (No 7 of 2017). The Act refers to the operation of a facility in respect of certain premises. It does not provide for mobile...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Substance Misuse (8 Dec 2022)

Frank Feighan: The National Drugs Strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery, A health-led response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland 2017-2025, sets out a health-led approach to drug use. It promotes a more compassionate and humane approach to people who use drugs, with drug use treated first and foremost as a public health issue. The Programme for Government endorses this health-led approach. ...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (7 Dec 2022)

Frank Feighan: ...more susceptible to infection, overdose and suicide and present with higher rates of degenerative disorders, circulatory and respiratory problems, diabetes, hepatitis and liver cirrhosis than their drug using peers. This population therefore requires an accessible collaborative approach, within which GPs are ideally positioned to provide comprehensive care. The ultimate aim is to have an...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Strategies (6 Dec 2022)

Frank Feighan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 506 and 507 together. The Department of Health has a variety of sources to monitor drug trends including the National Drug and Alcohol Survey, which is conducted every four years to survey the general population aged 15 years and over, about the prevalence of drug use in Ireland. The survey examines the use of a variety of drugs including alcohol and...

Drugs Policy: Motion [Private Members] (30 Nov 2022)

Frank Feighan: I very much welcome the opportunity to debate the Labour Party motion in respect of drugs policy and to highlight the progress we have made in the implementation of the national drugs strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery. As Deputies are aware, it is a health-led approach to drug and alcohol use in Ireland from 2017 to 2025. As Minister of State, I am responsible for co-ordinating...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Substance Misuse (30 Nov 2022)

Frank Feighan: Drug and Alcohol Task Forces play an important role in addressing problem drug and alcohol use within their geographical areas. The Department of Health does not collect data in relation to the funding of drug and alcohol services on a county basis. The financial information in the attached spreadsheet reflects the Department of Health allocations to Drug and Alcohol Task Forces only. As...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (22 Nov 2022)

Frank Feighan: As previously advised to the Deputy, the Department of Health continues to provide €2.249m per annum to community-based drug and alcohol services under the remit of the North Inner City Drug and Alcohol Task Force (NICDAFT). No funding has been withheld. The City of Dublin Youth Services Board (CDYSB), and the HSE (CHO Dublin North City and County) act as channels of funding for the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (22 Nov 2022)

Frank Feighan: The National Drug Strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery, commits to strengthening services to support families affected by substance misuse. It is a priority for the remaining period of the strategy to strengthen the prevention of drug and alcohol use and the associated harms among children, young people and families. The HSE funds a number of organisations that provide family...