Nicky McFadden (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I raise this important issue because I understand that only an ad hoc service is provided for methadone users and those suffering from addiction in the midlands. One doctor must be assigned for the exclusive care of the increasing number of drug addicts in the midlands.

I understand we live in challenging times, with serious rises in unemployment and poverty levels, which means that people are becoming desperate. Almost 500,000 people are vulnerable and down on their luck, having lost their jobs, whose bills piling up and relationships are breaking down, and who are under serious pressure to pay their mortgages. They find themselves with no alternatives and that is why some are turning to drugs. Many of them have serious mental health issues due to the stress and strain of coping with the recession. The Government is to blame for mismanaging the economy. People end up taking their own lives, and I know some of them.

Tony Geoghegan of the Merchants Quay project said at last week's launch of its 2009 annual review that the steep rise in unemployment and poverty levels did not bode well for drug-taking patterns in the months and years ahead. He referred to what happened in the 1980s and said that the rising tide of desperation is in danger of sinking many boats. There has been a 17% increase in demand for the Merchants Quay homeless service so far this year, with 9,422 people in 11 counties using the service. This desperation is clearly evident in the Longford-Westmeath region, with 205 people availing of heroin addiction services in the Athlone area alone.

I compliment general practitioners in the Athlone and Moate areas who work with clients, treat them with dignity and respect and try to help them and their long-suffering families out of a miserable existence. While I acknowledge the HSE support in the midlands, I fail to understand why a dedicated doctor is not heading up the service in an organised fashion. I understand the service in the Longford-Westmeath area is operated by a number of GPs on a sessional basis and that clients must be bussed - in this day and age - to their appointments from Longford and Mullingar and, I know, from Laois and Offaly. I query the cost of providing this ad hoc service and I would like to use the privilege of the Seanad to request from the Minister of State the actual cost of providing this service so far this year. I do not believe an adequate service is being provided for these unfortunate people.

Tony Geoghegan from the Merchants Quay project stated that the use of heroin in the regions has increased fourfold in recent years, which is much greater than the increase in Dublin. I would be interested to hear the Minister of State's reply.